- Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: The Maple Leafs tear-down is about to begin. It is expected that they will make at least five trades between now and the March 2nd trade deadline, with larger deals potentially happening in the offseason. Almost everyone is available, with Western Conference teams being the most active. Info “comes from reliable, professional working NHL executive”
Untouchables: Morgan Rielly, James van Riemsdyk
For sale: Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnik, Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak (the Blackhawks, Ducks, Jets, and maybe the Bruins and Canucks should be interested) and Roman Polak.
Leafs still believe in … sort of: Jonathan Bernier (the goalie market is soft, so a trade seems out of the question), Nazem Kadri and Jake Gardiner.
For sale – but likely in the offseason: Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf
‘The Luongo Problem’ – His contract sucks: David Clarkson, who also has a no-movement clause.
The rest who are likely to stay: Leo Komarov, Peter Holland, Richard Panik and Stephane Robidas.
Korbinian Holzer and David Booth could interest teams that are looking for depth.
- Jeff Blair of Sportsnet: Maple Leafs Jonathan Bernier’s is now being mentioned as a possible trade candidate as the deadline approaches. Glen Healy and others are not sure that Bernier could backstop the Maple Leafs through the playoffs.
- Terry Koshan: Leafs Cody Franson on the possibility of a trade: “When my phone rings, my phone will ring and I will deal with it then … this is where I want to be.”
- Michael Traikos of the National Post: Pending RFA Nazem Kadri wants to remain with the Maple Leafs and wants to commit long-term. He hopes the Leafs are thinking the same.
“I’ve said this before: If they want me, I want to be here,” said Kadri, who has 14 goals and 29 points in 52 games. “I just want to feel wanted and feel like a part of the future. In the talks I’ve had, everything’s been really positive and I know that on my side and he’s rooting for me.
“With his guidance, I think I can turn into a really good player. If they want to help me, I’m definitely willing to be here long term.”
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Cody Franson will be dealt unless there is a big shift in contract talks. Both sides don’t think that will happen as they are off on both term and salary. It doesn’t make sense for the Leafs to go six- or seven-years. Franson on being named by TSN that he’s the Leafs most likely to be dealt.
“Yes, so I’ve been told,” Franson said. “It’s one of those things, no matter how hard you try to distance yourself, you hear those types of things. I’m hopeful that’s not the case. But I knew coming into this year there would be this kind of speculation going on if something wasn’t done contractually. It’s part of the business. It’s something you just have to be able to handle.”
Pending UFA Daniel Winnik ($1.3 million)
“I’ve been through it before,” said Leafs winger Daniel Winnik, traded twice before in his NHL career. “I woke up the morning of the trade deadline and saw I was, like, No. 4 on the trade-bait list. So I knew I was probably going.”
Pending UFA Mike Santorelli ($1.5 million)
“What’s going to happen is what’s going to happen, I can’t control it,” Santorelli said with a shrug on Monday.
The Leafs reached out to Santorelli’s agent and were told that a deal could get done if they offered three-years at about $3 million a season.