- Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 on Tyler Bozak.
“There are teams inquiring. Again, I think people see the distress the Leafs are in and are thinking they can pick the carcass. So, when you hear ‘total rebuild’ or ‘blow it up,’ you think they’ll make a trade for a couple of picks or ‘B’ prospects. I’m sure the Leafs’ attitude is we have to rebuild but do it smartly. “In absence of a really good pick and or really good prospects, we can’t take fair to middling draft picks or prospects for a guy like Bozak because, whatever shortcomings he may have as a so-called number-one center, who do we play if he isn’t there?” This rebuild sounds terrific, but you have to ice some NHL players. The return becomes important and right now I don’t think it’s been on a level the Leafs desire. I think at best it’s 50-50 that Bozak moves.”
On who could be the best coaching choice for the Leafs this offseason.
“I think you have to do things in the proper sequence. If you’re Brendan Shanahan, I’m sure you’re thinking about the coach because you know Peter Horachek is a caretaker as an interim guy; first thing’s first, you have to decide what is going to happen with the GM, if Dave Nonis is the general manager or if someone else is going to the be the GM. If it’s not Dave Nonis, I‘m sure the GM is going to want input as to who the coach is. If Peter Chiarelli got let go in Boston, and Dave Nonis got let go in Toronto, and Pete Chiarelli becomes the GM, it may well be that Claude Julien makes the most sense, but I’m sure if Babcock or McLellan is available . This is why the Leafs and a bunch of teams are going to be eagerly anticipating what is going to happen in the playoffs.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 on Sabres and Ryan O’Reilly talk.
“Well, Buffalo is interested. And they were interested before. And they’re still interested. And I think Tim Murray is going to try everything within his power to make it happen. If he couldn’t make it happen when he had Tyler Myers, I’m not sure that there’s anything necessarily there that would make it easier. If anything, it would probably be more difficult if you’re trying to get Ryan O’Reilly out of Colorado.
“Colorado is open to the notion, I think. I’d be shocked if it happens between now and the deadline, but it’s not out of the question. But this summer I think certainly because of the financial implications of where O’Reilly’s contract is going, and the fact that they need help in other areas more than they need Ryan O’Reilly – even though Patrick Roy loves rolling Ryan O’Reilly out the gate every shift he possibly can – it’s probably not feasible to keep him long-term.
“So therefore I think he will move in the summer, if not sooner.”
Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960: The Blackhawks may be interested in Curtis Glencross, as well as Antoine Vermette. The longer the Blackhawks wait, the more cap space they generate.