- Chris Johnston of Sportsnet: On the Leafs after another loss.
Some kind of trade must be made and two days from now is too late. These players have left management without a choice.
There are obviously no easy long-term fixes to be made, but something small in the interim is perfectly justifiable after watching this foundation fall to pieces yet again. Call it a warning shot — the sort of thing president Brendan Shanahan thought he had sent less than two weeks ago when he addressed the team and told them management would be watching closely in the second half.
- James Mirtle: On the Leafs.
The reality is there’s no quick fix for the Leafs. As terrific talk radio fodder as it is, one or two trades for “name” players on the downside of their careers isn’t a solution: It’s a continuation of a problem that has plagued the organization for ages.
No foresight. No anticipation. No vision, other than trying to sell magic beans (like Dave Bolland’s third-line grit) as the cure-all.
The Leafs don’t need a complete gut job, but they can’t put bandages on their roster and improve by small steps.
- Mark Master: Eric Staal: “I have a no-move in my contract & as of right now nobody has come up to me to ask whether I’d be willing to move or not.” On if it would be tough to leave Jordan who is signed long-term: “A little bit & right now I’ve been playing on a line with him & it’s been a lot of fun.” Eric said he talked with GM Ron Francis in the summer about the direction of the franchises, but they haven’t talked much in-season. On having roots in Raleigh: “It’s a place I definitely hold deep in my heart, but wherever life takes you, you figure it out”
- Patrick Williams: “You could always count on the Flyers to pull off some sort of big move, but they’ve just handcuffed themselves w terrible contracts.”
- Erik Erlendsson: Expect the Lightning to acquire a defenseman, but it doesn’t mean that it is imminent or immediate.
- David Pagnotta: Scouting the Hurricanes and Maple Leafs last night: Bruins, Blues, Rangers (3), Senators, Jets, Lightning, Coyotes, Flyers, Canucks, Kings, Blue Jackets, Wild and Predaotrs.
- Jameson Olive: Scouting the Panthers and Canucks: Flames, Senators, Jets, Sharks, Blue Jackets and Stars.