NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs want to load up, Tony DeAngelo looking at AHL, and latest on Jack Eichel
Anthony Scultore
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are ready to pull out all the stops and end their Stanley Cup drought. It’s apparent being the best team in the NHL up until this point isn’t enough.
NHL Rumors: Leafs looking to bolster forwards corps
On TSN’s Insider Trading, Darren Dreger provided an update on what Kyle Dubas may be looking to do at the deadline.
Management would like to bolster their forward group…they would like to give this group a little bit more depth and firepower. Particularly in the middle of the lineup, there has been some speculation about Mikael Granlund of the Nashville Predators. Could there be a fit moving forward between David Poile and Kyle Dubas, well perhaps, if the Nashville Predators are willing to retain some salary. Look, Toronto has the prospects, and if necessary have the draft picks to make something like that happen.
Darren Dreger TSN
Toronto is easily one of the Cup favorites and should be able to get out of a relatively weak North Division with little fuss. Things really haven’t panned out with Jimmy Vesey and it makes sense to add any depth you can find for a long run.
NHL Rumors: Jack Eichel likely an offseason trade
While Jack Eichel remains a hot topic among the NHL Rumor Mill, and in particular the Rangers circle, don’t expect a move at the deadline. The consensus from all the top insiders is that this will be an offseason deal.
I know it’s white-hot in Buffalo, but I would be shocked for the above reasons if the Sabres considered a trade now. First, it’s something they have to come to grips with. Second, there simply aren’t a ton of teams in position to do it for budget or cap reasons. Things change in the off-season: contracts coming off the cap; the 10 per cent summer cushion; etc. The Rangers are an obvious exception — they could do it at any time, if they wished — although some of the proposals I’ve seen out there are kinda crazy.
31 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman
The Rangers and Kings remain the top two teams that can make a trade for Jack Eichel and fit him with the cap. Over at Forever Blueshirts, I break down what a realistic trade could look like for the star center.
NHL Rumors: Tony DeAngelo wants to play for an AHL team
Last night during TSN’s Insider Trading, Frank Seravalli provided an update on Tony DeAngelo. The 25 year-old defenseman has been skating on his own but would like to stay in game shape and is looking to the AHL for that.
“Tony DeAngelo has expressed interest in a loan to the American Hockey League. That’s what he let the Rangers know, that he’d like to get playing again, he’s been skating for the last month to this point on his own. He’s willing to accept a loan to any AHL franchise and I believe the Rangers are interested in facilitating that, but it would take someone else stepping up to do so. Because the Rangers have let him know he’s not welcome in Hartford, the ties have been cut with the entire Rangers organization to this point.”
Frank Seravalli TSN
At this point, another AHL would need to step up and that’s a tall order. Several teams have opted out of the AHL season and there’s plenty of players still looking for work or trying to get back in from other leagues.