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Toronto Maple Leafs: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

By Bruce Harte Ashley |
May 31, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA: General overall view of the T-Mobile Arena exterior on Las Vegas Blvd. on the Las Vegas strip. The facility will be the home of the NHL expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights which will begin play during the 2017-18 season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA: General overall view of the T-Mobile Arena exterior on Las Vegas Blvd. on the Las Vegas strip. The facility will be the home of the NHL expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights which will begin play during the 2017-18 season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs, rumors, protection lists and behind the door deals.

The National Hockey League has released the protected lists for the first expansion draft in 17 years. While the Toronto Maple Leafs stirred up comments via social media when they protected Matt Martin over Brendan Leipsic, Kerry Rychel or Martin Marincin, I believe it was the right move and here are my reasonings.

There have been some surprises. Vegas GM George McPhee made it clear that they are willing to negotiate with all 30 teams. If a team values an unprotected player, it’s Let’s Make a Deal!

Rumors Rumors Everywhere

The Las Vegas Golden Knights have the NHL in the palm of George McPhee’s hand. While trades can happen during this 72-hour window, everything goes through the Knights. As fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs wait for something to happen, what could Lamoriello have cooking? Let’s take a minute to recap some rumors, speculation,  wants, needs and silliness.

It is no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs want and need to upgrade the blue line. Speculation has ranged from A to Z and everything in between. Unsigned NLA free agents to NHL free agents Kevin Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner. Nearly every NHL right-handed defenceman has been mentioned. Barrie and Brodin. Demers and Dumba. Hamilton and Hamonic. Methot, Miller, and Manson. Pysyk and Polak. Tanev and Trouba. Van Riemsdyk and Vatanen have all be discussed.

Vegas, the Centre of the Hockey Universe? I Should Have Turned Left at Albuquerque

First of all, the  Golden Knights are the centre of the Hockey Universe. I am not kidding. Because for the next 36 hours, all roads go through Las Vegas. This is a unique scenario. No past expansion drafts have ever stacked the cards in favor of a new team as they are now.

George McPhee is open for business. As a result, the team has a unique opportunity to stockpile draft picks and prospects and the current scenario can help everyone.

The Anaheim Ducks left Vatanen and Manson off their protection list. The Wild left Scandella and Dumba unprotected, while the Panthers failed to protect Marchessault, Luongo, and Demers. Furthermore, nearly every team has an “I can’t believe they didn’t protect him” candidate.

In addition, the New York Islanders have a deal in place to send their first-round draft pick to the Vegas Golden Knights, according to a report from Arthur Staple of Newsday.The deal would push Vegas towards selecting a specific player from the Islanders’ unprotected list — believed to be winger Nikolai Kulemin or centre Mikail Grabovski.sportsnet.ca

The Blue Jackets and LVGK have reached an agreement as reported by Aaron Portzline.

The Jackets are believed to be trading this year’s first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) and a prospect (not Pierre-Luc Dubois or Sonny Milano) to Vegas for assurances that the Golden Knights will select either left-wing Matt Calvert, center William Karlsson or defenseman Ryan Murray.Vegas’ acquisition of the contract of injured veteran forward David Clarkson ($5.25 million salary cap hit) may also be part of the deal.The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline

The Toronto Maple Leafs Can Improve their Defence, at what Cost?

While I read the protection lists, I see the unprotected players who can help the Leafs and I have two questions on my mind.

  1. Will McPhee play ball ?
  2. What is the cost of playing ball? It seems that everything will come to light Wednesday evening.

While searching for trade histories between Lou Lamoriello and George McPhee, I found they completed one trade as GM’s. Furthermore, while running the Devils in 1987, Lou acquired McPhee in a trade after the Rangers shipped him to Winnipeg for a 4th. Because Lamoriello and McPhee go way back, would McPhee help an old friend/GM?

More from Editor In Leaf

With all the craziness ramping up towards Wednesday at 8 pm., what would you do?  A Trade? A free agent signing such as Shattenkirk or Despres?  This is a once in a decade opportunity.   Set up the Toronto Maple Leafs as a cup favorite for years to come.

Be creative and let’s have those ideas.

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