The Toronto Maple Leafs have been having a reportedly busy off-season.
So far Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs have not made a significant move, but according to rumours, they are very active.
And since they failed to win the Stanley Cup, are up against a potentially bad salary cap situation, have had multiple players request trades, and an unsigned superstar, this shouldn’t be a surprise.
And with the draft less than one week away, some of these rumours – or something similar – are bound to come through.
Toronto Maple Leafs Rumours
This week so far, Elliotte Friedman wrote in his 31 Thoughts that the Leafs are one of the most active teams on the trade market. Unfortunately for us, he did not include specifics.
Although in separate rumours there have been hints as to what they may be doing. Friday it came out that the Toronto Maple Leafs are shopping Garret Sparks.
A more reliable back-up who can give Andersen some more time off isn’t the worst idea I ever heard.
On Friday there was also news that the Oilers were interested in Nikita Zaitsev.
It was only last week that Zaitsev was linked (along with Kasperi Kapanen) to the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Vancouver Canucks.
In addition to all this, there are those pesky rumours about Ron Hainsey re-signing that we all hope are false.
There is the one about Patrick Marleau, and the ones about Kadri potentially being traded.
And of course, no day is complete in Toronto without the latest rumours, news, nonsense, and speculation about Mitch Marner.
Will he re-sign? If so, for how much? Will he get an offer-sheet? (No, not bloody likely, but that doesn’t stop people from constantly speculating about it).
The Toronto Maple Leafs off-season hasn’t even got started yet, and it’s an absolute rumour-fest. This is fun, but I personally can’t wait to see what actually happens.
The Leafs have to sign Marner, and how they dispose of Marleau and Zaitsev will be interesting to behold. But mainly what I want to know is who are they going to add to the team?
Will they pursue a right-handed defensive defenseman (who can actually play) like Josh Manson?
Will they somehow clear the salary necessary to pursue Erik Karlsson? (No, but he, we can dream!) or will they settle for their old boy Jake Gardiner?
It is my full recommendation that they bring Gardiner back, and the last rumour that I will mention today is that they remain open to doing so.