On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: Forward Josh Leivo loves being a Maple Leaf, but he wants to play. He hasn’t been in the lineup since New Year Eve, and it was reported on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night that he’s asked for a trade.
“Josh is a player who would stand in front of a train for the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Leivo’s agent, Ian Pulver, said Sunday. “Josh was drafted by the Leafs and he wants to be a long-time Leaf. He would love to be in the lineup Monday night and every night thereafter.
“Having said that, he hasn’t been in the lineup for a long time and hasn’t played much in the past two seasons. He has reached a point in his career where he simply needs to play regularly.”
Nikita Soshnikov may also not be happy with his situation and could be looking for a trade. Soshnikov’s agent couldn’t be reached for comment.
Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello wouldn’t comment.
The Maple Leafs have pending UFA forwards James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and Leo Komarov, and they could lose them for nothing after the season. If the Leafs were to move any of those three, it would open up some potential ice time for Leivo or Soshnikov.
Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: Forward James van Riemsdyk is trying not to think about the approaching trade deadline. The belief is the Maple Leafs will hold on to the pending unrestricted free agent.
Other Leafs pending UFAs include Tyler Bozak, Dominic Moore, Leo Komarov and Roman Polak.
Josh Leivo has asked for a trade, and Nikita Soshnikov could also be available. Matt Martin is under contract through 2019-20 and has been a healthy scratch the past five games.
The Leafs could use some depth at center.
They’d also like to get a top-four defenseman, but that might cost one of William Nylander, Mitch Marner or Kasperi Kapanen.