- Craig Custance of ESPN: Mike Babcock would be the long-term dream solution for the Maple Leafs behind the bench. Dan Bylsma could be another good fit, with Peter DeBoer another possibility. Their core of Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, David Clarkson, Joffrey Lupul and Tyler Bozak hasn’t worked.
There isn’t a player on the team, aside from perhaps goalie Jonathan Bernier, who should be untouchable. The best players on the Maple Leafs’ roster would be secondary players on a championship team. Nobody doubts Kessel’s ability to score and change games, but he’s not a centerpiece to build around. Neither is Phaneuf.
But both have value. A lot of Maple Leafs have value. Even with all the issues, this is still a borderline playoff team. However, that’s not the goal. Shanahan is trying to build a championship team, and these players haven’t shown they are the kind around whom you build champions.
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: The Leafs are currently a capped-out team and are not a constructed to win the Cup. They can’t buy a No. 1 center or a top defenseman. They may have go the route of looking to start winning in two or three years. Moving out players like Stephane Robidas, Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Roman Polak, even if it means bringing in a bad contract with a little less term. Biting the bullet and eating half of David Clarkson’s salary and getting it off the books. See what the market is for Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel.
- Adam Proteau of The Hockey News: Three teams that could be active on the trade front before the deadline.1. Philadelphia Flyers – when the Flyers make moves, they are usually big. Something big needs to be done to their blueline.
2. Minnesota Wild – have won only five games since the start of December. The Wild’s goaltending hasn’t been good. A long-term option could be someone like Martin Jones.
3. New Jersey Devils – they have a collection of veterans that could help out other teams, including Jaromir Jagr.
- Scott Burnside of ESPN: On the Bruins …
So, do you trade Milan Lucic? Do you try and move another big piece? If you make such a move, what do you add to fill the void(s) created? But can Chiarelli afford to move Lucic and then find out the team desperately needs him come playoff time? No. When the Bruins were at their best while winning that Stanley Cup in 2011 and losing in the finals to Chicago in 2013, Lucic was a force who made life miserable for playoff opponents. But to do nothing or to merely tinker, playing around the edges of the lineup hoping the Bruins move beyond their current inertia, is also a strategy that could backfire if the team continues to muck about.
- Darren Dreger on NHL Live on the Maple Leafs (from Tuesday)