Basically, Steve Yzerman is all-in on the Syracuse Crunch playoff run this season, and Lou Lamoriello is all-in on the Leafs'. I know which trade deadline philosophy I’d rather have...

The Leafs

Leafs acquire Boyle from Lightning | TSN
“I think there are some smart minds behind that organization in Toronto and they know the player they’re getting and that’s what I’m going to do,” he said. “I’m going to do what’s asked of me, first and foremost. There’s a lot of motivation for me to prove Lou [Lamoriello] and Brendan [Shanahan] and the management in Toronto right, and help the team win.”

Transcript: Brian Boyle discusses being traded from Tampa to Toronto | Raw Charge
Boyle talks about how much he enjoyed playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the growth of hockey in Tampa, and his excitement about joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With one NHL trade deadline deal the Marlies are dramatically weaker | Katya
"Centre depth was the reason for the trade, centre depth on the Leafs, that is. But the Marlies are struggling most nights to put together their forward lineup, so much so that if the Leafs had needed a call-up for the road trip they are on right now, they’d have had a hard time finding an option. Without Boyle, the choice was Sergey Kalinin or Brooks Laich."

Syracuse Crunch loses enforcer, picks up scorer in Tampa Bay trade with Toronto | Syracuse.com
"Froese is second in the AHL with 24 goals for the Marlies, with much of that damage coming at the expense of the Crunch. He has four goals in four games against Syracuse this season."

Maple Leafs trade Byron Froese, draft pick to Lightning for Brian Boyle | Globe and Mail
“When I came down to Tampa I was excited about the opportunity and it was a younger team, relatively untested and we went to the Cup final that year so the potential and the opportunity is there,” Boyle said. “And I think the skill level is for sure there.”

Toronto Maple Leafs address centre-ice depth, acquire Brian Boyle from Tampa Bay Lightning | Canadian Press
"The conditional pick in 2017 will be the higher choice between the Leafs own selection or previously acquired picks from San Jose or Ottawa."

Tampa Bay Lightning: Brian Boyle, Ben Bishop Trades Send Wrong Message | Inscribe Magazine
This person doesn't know what the term "UFA" means. "Simply put, both players were veterans that weren’t afraid to speak up and demand change when the Lightning needed it most. Neither was the captain or alternate captain, but in a season where both Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan have been injured for a good chunk of time Boyle and Bishop kept the team afloat."

2017 NHL Trade Deadline: Lightning send Brian Boyle to Toronto Maple Leafs | Raw Charge
"Despite Yzerman’s comment that the team is still trying to make the playoffs, he’s sold off another piece just hours after sending Bishop to Los Angeles."

Toronto Maple Leafs: Thoughts On Brian Boyle Pickup | Editor in Leaf
"In my opinion, this is a steal for the Leafs. All they gave up is a good AHL player in Byron Froese and a second rounder, which we still have one remaining in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. It should work out to be a good signing for Lou Lamoriello, even if it is just for the rest of the season."

4 Defencemen Toronto Maple Leafs Could Pursue at NHL Trade Deadline | Tip of the Tower
"Though the organization is only in year two of their rebuild, the team is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race and contending for a playoff spot could go a long ways to building a sustainable winning culture."

The League

Dellow: Are the Calgary Flames paying a price for Dennis Wideman hitting an official? | The Athletic, subscription content
'[I]t was with great interest that I read Eric Francis’ piece on Sportsnet talking about something that had already caught my attention: The Calgary Flames and the curious explosion in their penalty volume. To me, it read like the Flames politely pointing out an internal concern: the possibility that the referees were applying a “Wideman Tax” after Dennis Wideman injured a linesman last year.'

NHL: Trades hinging on playoff success are ‘in vogue’ | Whyno
"As of Monday night, five pre-deadline deals include draft picks contingent on how far a team goes in the playoffs. There were 13 such trades combined at the past four deadlines."

Wild's Zach Parise, Jason Pominville latest to be diagnosed in NHL mumps outbreak | Sports Illustrated
"The Wild said in a statement that their players and other members of the organization had recently been given the vaccine for the virus, which is highly contagious and carries symptoms including fever, headaches, muscle aches and swelling of the salivary glands."

Two NHL players shared a good laugh seconds before fighting each other | Fox Sports
"For example, look at what happened in Sunday’s Panthers-Senators game in Florida. Late in the third period, Panthers winger Reilly Smith and Senators forward Ryan Dzingel had this exchange."

After trio of trades, Daniel Winnik and his wife have mastered NHL’s trade deadline dance | Washington Post
“Dan went into overdrive and tried to pack as much as he could,” said his wife, Taylor Winnik. “The first thing he did was go to our storage unit and grab all of the giant plastic bins we have for all of our stuff, and he just started jamming every kitchen supply you can imagine into these things. He kind of went crazy trying to get it done.”

NHL legends to play in Cape Breton to support boy with cancer | CBC
Awwwww. "NHL alumni players such as Ray Bourque and Ron Duguay will play Centre 200 in Sydney on April 5."

From The Branches