The Maple Leafs news was coming in fast late yesterday

Calle Rosen has been extended by the Toronto Maple Leafs

Rosen extension prime example of Maple Leafs' plan to juggle around stars - Sportsnet.ca

Leafs trade Cracknell to Ducks for Oleksy; Marlies deal Glass

When the Maple Leafs traded Andrew Nielsen I assumed it was because there was just too many defenders in the system, because there were. Now we have another one? There must be another move coming.

Speaking of other moves coming....

Blues waive Chad Johnson, recall Jordan Binnington
Brayden Schenn uses the f-bomb to describe the Blues: fragile

The St. Louis Blues are imploding so how can we take advantage of this? Over the weekend Sportsnets Nick Kypreos floated the idea of the Leafs being interested in Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo.

Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo potentially available; Leafs a possible fit - Sportsnet.ca

“I don’t think that Armstrong is shopping Pietrangelo, but that doesn’t keep teams from calling … and asking about him,” said Kypreos. “I believe one of those teams is the Toronto Maple Leafs. I think where that would have to start is if Toronto and (GM) Kyle Dubas get St. Louis to possibly bite on (Nikita) Zaitsev’s contract – which is owed another five years at $4.5 million.”

Two questions come up:

  1. Why would the Leafs trade for someone on IR
  2. Why would the Blues want Zaitsev?

Unless Pietrangelo is a huge locker room cancer, I just can’t see the Blues giving up on their captain unless there’s a huge package including young defenders like Rasmus Sandin or Timothy Liljegren as well as roster payers like Kapanen or Kadri.

While he would be a huge get, it would cost a lot for a season and a half of him. And then you need to re-sign him. Maybe we could get Carl Gunnarsson back instead?

And in other news....

Have Third Periods Been a Problem for the 2018-19 New Jersey Devils?

How bad are the Devils?

Contract Negotiations 101: William Nylander

Centre of Leafs nation goes over the Nylander negotiations.

Have Third Periods Been a Problem for the 2018-19 New Jersey Devils?

Canada World Junior Camp Omissions

Canada left off some big names from the World Junior camp invite list

Maple Leafs will succeed on the basis of skill, not truculence

Don’t panic after the Bruins game people, let’s just enjoy the season.

And on that note, enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches