- Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs have let teams know that they intend to trade Phil Kessel before the draft. The Leafs are trying to accomplish three things before the June 26-27th draft.
First, president Brendan Shanahan has said several times the team wants to change its leadership group before next season. Well, all the same leaders are still in place.
Second, the team badly wants to clear up its salary cap situation. There’s no appetite to be a cap team if the club isn’t going to be a contender for a playoff position.
Finally, the Leafs are clearly not just looking at this draft, and the two first-round picks they currently own, as a quick step back before leaping forward again.
The Leafs are already looking ahead to the 2016 and 2017 drafts. They need to acquire more draft picks. The Leafs could re-visit talks with Detroit about Dion Phaneuf. Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul are next on the list.
The Sabres are looking at moving their second first round pick, No. 21.
The Leafs could look at using their No. 24 pick and a veteran to move up in the draft.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The Red Wings could buy Stephen Weiss out. A buyout would cost the Wings a cap hit of $1 million, $1 million, $2.5 million and $1.67 million over the final three years. They might be better off on keeping him for another season and see how he is under new head coach Jeff Blashill. If he doesn’t have a good year, they could buy him out next offseason. His cap hit would then only be on the books for four years and not six.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The Red Wings are expected to go after free agent winger Matt Beleskey, but so are a lot of other teams. Joel Ward could be another option for the Wings.The Wings could look at defenseman Mike Green, but he’s going to want $6 million a season for five or six years.The Wings could try to make a deal with the Coyotes for the third overall pick and draft Noah Hanifin, though it would cost a lot. The No. 19 pick and Anthony Mantha might not be enough.
There is Dion Phanuf. With Mike Babcock now in Toronto, they may no longer be interested in Brendan Smith, who was often benched by Babcock.
