James Mirtle: Maple Leafs Dave Bolland: “For sure it was a tough year for me… A fluke injury gets the best of you.” “It’s Toronto, it’s my hometown. Love to come back.”
Mike Zeisberger: Maple Leafs Jake Gardiner on being a RFA: ”This is where I want to be.”
Rob Longley: Maple Leafs James Reimer on his future: ”will come down to a couple of circumstances.”
Toronto Sun: Pending RFA James Reimer is unsure on his future.
“The hockey world is a crazy place. This has been my team and I have really enjoyed it, and it has been a huge blessing. I always dreamed this would be the organization that I stay with my whole career, so we will see what happens.”
If Reimer wants a trade, speculated landing spots could be the Jets, Flames, Islanders and Oilers.
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: If the Maple Leafs fire Randy Carlyle, some coaches that they may be interested in: Mike Keenan, John Hynes (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach), Peter Laviolette and Kevin Dineen. The Leafs have $49 million committed to 12 players next season, leaving about $22 million for 11 more players. Low cost players like Petter Granberg, Andrew MacWilliam, Jerry D’Amigo and Spencer Abbott could be used. That would leave about $18 million for eight players. UFAs: Dave Bolland, Nikolai Kulemin, Jay McClement, Mason Raymond, Troy Bodie and Paul Ranger. RFAs: James Reimer, Cody Franson, Jake Gardiner, Peter Holland, Carter Ashton, D’Amigo and Abbott. The Leafs could use their RFAs as trade bait. Reimer is likely gone, especially if Randy Carlyle stays. Gardiner may want $3 million a year, and could be used as trade bait for a top center.
Kevin Allen of USA Today: Capitals owner Ted Leonsis may not bring GM George McPhee and coach Adam Oates back. Leonsis must also look at Alex Ovechkin, is he part of the solution or part of the problem? Do they look to see if a new coach could change him or look to move him out?
It’s hard to see John Tortorella returning to the Canucks.
Randy Carlyle will likely be fired by Maple Leafs. The Leafs appear to be ready to make some major moves this offseason, with Nazem Kadri possibly the center piece of a deal.
The Predators may look at firing coach Barry Trotz. He won’t be out of work long if they let him go.