On the Maple Leafs and Ducks
- The Fourth Period: The Maple Leafs are one of the more active teams on the trade front and are reportedly in on multiple trade talks.
- The Leafs and Ducks are reportedly having significant talks involving a number of players. TFP could not confirm which players were being discussed.
- The Lightning’s assistant GM Pat Verbeek was at last night’s Leafs-Stars game. The Red Wings and Canadiens each had two members of their management/scouting staff at the game.
- The Leafs could be looking for a new No. 1 goalie. Among the Leafs that are available – Roman Polak, Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Michael Grabner.
- TFP reported back in September that the Leafs almost traded James van Riemsdyk to the Penguins before they made the Phil Kessel trade.
- Sources are saying that several teams have asked the Leafs about van Riemsdyk, though it’s not known if the Leafs would be willing to trade him.
On Mike Richards …
- Frank Seravalli of TSN: Mike Richards agent, Pat Morris, said this week that despite injuries piling up for teams, there have been no nibbles on Richards.
- The Blues brought in Dainius Zubrus and Martin Havlat on tryouts in the past week. The Blues may have passed on Richards because of his recent trouble and the rocky history he had with Ken Hitchcock back in Philadelphia.
- Richards will likely get a job at some point.
- The Flames and Oilers were considering trading for him back at the draft and before his border incident camp out.
- Teams may be waiting for his court case (December 8th) to be settled before considering him further.
On the Stars …
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (chat) Heika doesn’t think they will bring both pending free agents Alex Goligoski and Jason Demers back next season.
- There is no need to trade either Patrik Nemeth or Jamie Oleksiak as this point, unless they receive a big offer. There is no reason to trade them to any team in the West that is looking for a defenseman. The Stars like the insurance of having both defenseman in case of injury.