Michael Augello: “Based on the need throughout the league for scoring wingers and centers, dealing JVR or Bozak is not out of the question, if they are part of a package to bring in a top four D. The #Leafs have significant depth up front that would allow them to deal their pending UFA’s”
Mike Halford of The Athletic: Looking at trade scenarios involving the Vancouver Canucks and if they are likely to occur.
Chris Tanev – 27-year old carries a $4.45 million cap hit through 2020. There would be plenty of teams interested in Tanev if he were made available. The Toronto Maple Leafs could be looking for some blue line help; they have lots of prospects and Tanev was paired with Morgan Rielly for Team Canada at the World Championships.
Kristen Shilton: The Maple Leafs sign forward Josh Leivo to a one-year contract extension worth $925,000.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: thinks that the Maple Leafs signing Josh Leivo to a one-year contract extension means that it will likely be James van Riemsdyk‘s last season with the team. Leivo obviously isn’t as good as van Riemsdyk, but he is a cheaper, middle-of-the-roster player. Leivo has good hands and can play on the power-play. Nikita Soshnikov could be a replacement for Leo Komarov, who is also a pending UFA. The Maple Leafs don’t have a replacement for pending UFA center Tyler Bozak.
Sportsnet: Saturday Headlines
Chris Johnston: At the NHL GM meetings they talked about dropping the overtime penalty to one minute instead of two.
Elliotte Friedman: At their next GM meeting in March, the GMs could talk about having the ‘puck over the glass’ and ‘faceoff’ penalty be one minute instead of two.
Nick Kypreos: GMs Doug Armstrong (Blues), Ken Holland (Red Wings), and Lou Lamoriello (Maple Leafs) are all in their final year of their contracts and there haven’t been any significant extension talks.
Chris Johnston: There have been no substantive contract extension talks between the Maple Leafs and any of their big pending UFAs – James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov. The Leafs could have some decisions come trade deadline about potentially trading one of them.