Kevin McGran: Leafs have inquired on Bryan Bickell
The Leafs kicked the tires on Bickell — who may be finished as an NHLer — and are waiting to hear back from Chicago. The 29-year-old power forward has one year left on a deal with an average cap hit of $4 million (U.S.), which is hurting the Blackhawks’ cap situation. He’s in the minors, and $3.05 million still counts against the cap. The Leafs would take him — they can easily afford him — if there was something else in it for them. Depending on what the Blackhawks want to do, they might just be desperate enough to sweeten the deal. If the Hawks move him, it means they have something else up their sleeve.
Elliotte Friedman: PA Parenteau likely next to move
Friedman: Arizona, Calgary, San Jose potential destinations for Reimer
Larry Brooks floats PA Parenteau to New Jersey with Eric Gelinas coming back (speculation)
If the Devils are seeking help up front in the form of a rental, they could do much, much worse than Toronto’s P.A. Parenteau. And Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello might be able to find a match with his old team’s young defenseman Eric Gelinas, whose progress has hit a wall in New Jersey.
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Friedman AMA: “I wonder about Nazem Kadri”
Who do the blues target? Especially with Steen out, the sputtering offense can’t be expected to resurge suddenly in the final 20 games of the season.
Friedman: I’d be very curious to see Kadri in a STL uniform.
And who are some unlikely players you could see getting traded at the deadline?
Friedman: I do think we will get one bombshell no one sees coming. […] I also wonder about Nazem Kadri.
The Fourth Period: Leafs, Blues talking trade?
Blues Director of Pro Scouting Rob DiMaio has taken in several Leafs games in the last few weeks, with his most recent game last Thursday in Toronto.
On Monday night, Maple Leafs Assistant GM Kyle Dubas and Director of Pro Scouting Dave Morrison were on the list to scout the Blues’ home game against the San Jose Sharks.
The Blues have expressed interest in Leafs center Nazem Kadri and winger Joffrey Lupul, currently injured, in the past.
As last season’s trade deadline approached, the Leafs and Blues were reportedly in talks over Lupul, who has two-years left on his contract beyond this season.
The Leafs are shopping Lupul and are willing to entertain offers on Kadri, but the Leafs would need to retain part of Lupul’s salary or take back a higher contract as part of any trade.
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Frank Seravalli: Leafs set market on rental prices
With two trades in the last 24 hours, the Maple Leafs helped set the market for rental players in the final week leading up to the trade deadline. And after Sunday’s relatively meager yield for forward Shawn Matthias, Lamoriello’s latest deal only aids his Canadian counterparts (and the Leafs) for trades to come.
The return for Polak and Spaling dispelled the notion in hockey circles that next Monday would finally be the deadline where GMs will be saved from themselves, with rentals fetching significantly smaller returns than we’ve seen in years past.
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David Conte: Lou Lamoriello likes his roster “divided in thirds”
“Lou looked to have his teams divided into three chunks — one-third veterans, one-third players in their prime, one-third youngsters,” Conte said during a phone interview Monday. “That seemed to be the recipe for a successful chemistry.
“Lou was always one to let us do our jobs. But he also spent lots of time talking to us about prospects, draft picks, watching video. He knew that if trade talks came up, he wanted to be well informed on all the potential resources at his disposal.”
Pierre Lebrun: “The Leafs have massive cap room… don’t underestimate that weapon”
The 2017 draft is also looking good so far, with the Leafs having picked up two extra second-round picks between the Phaneuf deal with the Ottawa Senators and Monday’s deal with the Sharks. Plus, there are more picks coming in the next seven days, that is for sure. In addition, just as the Leafs were able to take on Raffi Torres’ remaining contract to make Monday’s deal work for San Jose, Toronto can continue to do that this week through the deadline: pick up salary and/or contracts in order to maximize return of assets. The Leafs have massive cap room to do so. Don’t underestimate that weapon.
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