- Ansar Khan of MLive: Khan wonders if the Red Wings and Maple Leafs will revisit their Dion Phaneuf trade talks or does Mike Babcock taking over behind the Leafs bench change things.
“I’m a fan of Dion,” Babcock said. “I think he’s a good kid. I think he works hard and he tries hard. But for me to comment on players that are here now, that’s unfair because I’ve evaluated them from afar and that to me is not what a coach does.”
Phanuef has six-years at a $7 million cap hit left on his deal, to go along with a limited no-trade clause. He was willing to waive it for for the Red Wings at the deadline. The Wings wanted the Leafs to retain $2 million of Phanuef’s salary and the Leafs wouldn’t go for that. The Leafs also didn’t want to take back Stephen Weiss and wanted Anthony Mantha instead.
- Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: If the Maple Leafs trade either Dion Phaneuf and/or Phil Kessel, they will likely be selling low on them. Kessel’s value may be at an all-time low.
The combination of reduced production, a reputation for being in average physical condition at best and the stigma of being labelled a “coach killer.
The Leafs could move Kessel, or hope that Babcock can change his game around. Randy Carlyle didn’t like giving Kessel days off from practice, but his assistant coaches would tell Carlyle that practices would be better and productive if Kessel wasn’t there.
- NHL.com: Former Maple Leafs defenseman and pending UFA Cody Franson said over the weekend that free agents, including himself, will find the Leafs a more attractive option now that Mike Babcock will be behind the bench.
“I definitely think it makes more interesting,” Franson told TSN 1050 Radio. “… Definitely, with Mr. Babcock going there, it’s an exciting time for people in that organization and I think it makes it more intriguing to free agents for sure.”
Franson added that he wouldn’t mind returning to Toronto.
“One hundred percent; I’ve always said that I loved it in Toronto,” the 27-year-old said. “… I’m hopeful that Toronto’s in the mix come July 1 and my phone will definitely be on and hoping that they’re one of the teams that calls.”