 | Trade Rumors: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs |
Hawks are hovering
Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs
LANCE HORNBY, SUN MEDIA
Saturday's win over Washington -- and even another tonight against the New York Islanders -- won't likely be enough to alter the course of change with the Maple Leafs.
General manager Brian Burke is working hard to recover the first- or second- round pick sacrificed in the Phil Kessel deal, while the NHL's unofficial trade window of U.S. Thanksgiving is here and cap-strapped teams such as the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to deal.
The Hawks and Leafs were linked earlier this month, but the pending multi-year extensions for Chicago pillars Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and defenceman Duncan Keith have put its management under the gun to create some $2 million US in "tag room" to accommodate the big salaries next season.
Chicago did pick up an extra half-million when forward Andrew Ebbett was claimed off waivers by the Wild, possibly the reason for talks with the Leafs stalling at the critical stage on the weekend. But elements of a deal, or deals, with the Leafs could be quickly resurrected in this environment.
Brent Sopel, a former Burke favourite in Vancouver, is a cash drain on an already strong Chicago defence, making $2.33 million and playing less than 14 minutes a game.
Chicago scouted both Marlies farm games this weekend and assistant GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was also at Saturday's Leafs-Caps match.
It's unlikely Chicago would now trade any of the other pieces it needs for a Cup run this year, such as Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg or Cam Barker. But the Leafs, with several players with expiring contracts, still don't know for sure what's in their own cupboard with the Marlies.
Centre Tyler Bozak, for example, has just now recovered from a suspected H1N1 flu bug, a strength-sapper that might explain his 10 points in 16 games and minus-5 rating. Until he is 100%, the Leafs won't know if he can make the jump and possibly centre Kessel.
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/23/11877756-sun.html
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| "Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs" | Login/Create an Account | 36 comments |
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by the_word on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | How is this a Hawk's article? No one cares about them.
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by goldman on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | even after another? like the leafs are going beat the Isles LOL
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by DandoEagle on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | What a gyp!
Pouilot for a Cam Neely type player I bet thsi comes back to bit Gainey in the butt!
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by dizon on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | | 61 motherfuhking shots and we still cant win. What did i say? We always run into hot goaltending. that or we just cant score for shit |
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by leafmeister (ottawasenators@willneverwinthecup.com) on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | We really do not need Sopel. Our defense is settling down, what we need is someone whose name doesnt start with a Kess and end with an el to score. Seriously, the guy is going to develop Sundin syndrome (being the only skilled player on the team) if he doesnt have someone to play with. Its good to know Kessel doesnt need a high end playmaker to score, but the Leafs definatley need more than Kessel's goals to win.
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by mojo19 on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I love Nik Kulemin, I actually love that guy. He does so many things right, soon he's going to start to score too. He needs to play more minutes, and get some PP time, he could be a point per game player within 3 years. |
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by Kramer on Monday, November 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | I heard a rumor Tavares is gonna be in the Jedi council.
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Re: Cap-strapped club may find itself revisiting trade talks with Leafs (Score: 1)
by KingCanada on Tuesday, November 24
(User Info | Send a Message) | I like this trade...
To Chicago: Garnett Exelby
To Toronto: Brent Sopel, 2nd round pick
If the trade was done today this trade would save them the 2.333 cap hit in 2010/11 but it would also save them 700k cap hit this season if u take into consideration we are approx 1/4 threw the season. If they wait until 2010 the savings for this season wont be as high.
Chicago I believe have two 2nd round picks this year if im not mistaken... (CHI 2nd 2010 and CGY 2nd 2010) due to that trade Burke did to re-aquire our own "TOR 2nd 2010". |
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