On Jordan Weal:
Jordan Weal is currently meeting with the Canucks. He also met with Toronto and Montreal this week and has other teams interested as well.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 28, 2017
On Joe Thornton:
Would be easier to name the teams that haven't called, then those who did, but no question the Leafs among those who reached out to Thornton
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2017
Friedman on Leafs potentially signing Thornton: "I'm sure that those are the kinds of things that they are exploring."
— Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) June 28, 2017
Elliotte Friedman (Fan 590):
On the Leafs’ intentions for the rest of the offseason:
I think the way they’re looking at it is: “What can we do for a couple of years? What can we do for a couple of years before the big contracts come in?”
Matthews, Nylande and Marner – they’re obviously going to have to pay these guys in a pretty hefty way. I think they look at it in terms of, “We’ve got a window open now.
We took the President’s Trophy winner five times in over time in a six-game series and played them pretty hard. What can we do there?” I think that’s kind of where they are right now.
“What are we going to do to give us a chance to win in the next couple of years?”
We mentioned whether they would take a look at a guy like Joe Thornton, who Mike Babcock knows very well, and I’m sure those are the kinds of things that they are exploring.
I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with. As we know now, since Lou Lamoriello got there, it much harder to figure out what they’re up to, but I definitely have the sense that they are trying to do something very big to give them a chance in the next couple of seasons.
On Patrick Marleau:
Friedman later talks about the Maple Leafs level of interest in free agent winger Patrick Marleau.
“That’s a good question and I don’t really have an answer yet. I know this: Mike Babcock loves Patrick Marleau. Loves, loves, loves Patrick Marleau. Now, is Patrick Marleau what the Leafs need right now? Maybe not. Do they need a scoring winger?
Now, if they’re going to play him as a center — which he hasn’t done a lot of, I don’t think, as much lately in the NHL — then I would ask, “Where are you playing him at center?” You’ve got Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak. Does that mean Bozak is gone but he’s got a year left on his deal?
There are lots of questions there, but if Marleau is viewed as a winger, that’s the position the Leafs least need help. I also know that’s a player that Mike Babcock tremendously values.”
On Kevin Shattenkirk:
As you'd think,
lots of interest in Shattenkirk. Believe TOR, NYR, NJ, BUF, LV, TB among teams who reached out. He's reviewing options today
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 28, 2017
David Pagnotta: Kevin Shattenkirk is obviously getting lost of interest with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning believed to be among the teams that have reached out to him. Shattenkirk was going over his options yesterday.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 1040 and was asked if he thinks Kevin Shattenkirk will be playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning next season. LeBrun notes that is possible, but another team may be ahead of the.