Maple Leafs continue to scout the Hurricanes
Darren Dreger: Some of the Toronto Maple Leafs management were scouting the Carolina Hurricanes – Calgary Flames game on Tuesday night.
The Maple Leafs continue to scout the Hurricanes available defensemen.
Some right-handed options for the Maple Leafs
Michael Hoad of Sportsnet: Looking at five right-handed defensemen the Toronto Maple Leafs could target before the NHL trade deadline.
Alex Pietrangelo – One year left at $6.5 million – The Blues have worked themselves back into the playoff race and may not be full out sellers.
Colton Parayko – A $5.5 million salary cap hit through 2021-22 – His offense this season has dropped so it may not be the best time for the Blues to move him. Is only 25 and could be part of their long-term plan.
Dougie Hamilton – $5.75 million cap hit through 2020-21 – Three-time 40-point defenseman, who is having a down year offensively. He could net the Carolina Hurricanes the biggest return.
Radko Gudas – $3.35 million cap hit through next season – Nick Kypreos said he could bring the Maple Leafs some grit. Coach Mike Babcock has said they need to play ‘heavier.’
Chris Tanev – $4.45 million cap hit through next season – The Canucks are in the playoff hunt and may not be selling. Injury concerns follow Tanev – hasn’t played over 60 games in a season since 2015-16 and has only hit that mark three times in his career.
Maple Leafs GM on the trade deadline
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas on if they will be aggressive at the trade deadline given the cap space they with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews still on their entry-level deals.
“Our hope is that our window where we’re in contention and continuing to get better expands for many years — as many as humanly possible — but I think we do have some space now and we can improve the group. Like I said, I think we’ll continue to look to explore all those avenues to do that.”
Dubas on if they would prefer a rental or a player with term at the deadline.
“Well I think it depends on what you’re willing to pay, right? That would certainly be our preference, to have somebody that we know is going to be a part of our group for beyond this season, but if there are players that are expiring at the end of this season that can help our group we won’t necessarily shy away from that either. It’s just finding the right people and players who can come into the locker room to help us.”
Dubas said that teams are calling each other, checking what’s available and making sure they aren’t missing anything. Talk is slower at the moment compared to what it recently had been. Teams are holding their scouting meetings and have other things on the go.
