If there’s one thing we know about the Toronto Maple Leafs’ front office since Lou Lamoriello became GM, it’s that they have an almost impenetrable cone of silence around their activities and intentions. Kyle Dubas has largely continued that trend, with the Matt Martin and Jake Muzzin trades largely coming out of nowhere.
It’s also clear that Kyle Dubas looks to help improve the team through less obvious ways. They need defensive help, but only on the right side? A pox on your handedness fetish, says he, I’ll get me another lefty who otherwise is exactly what the team needs in Jake Muzzin!
So maybe it shouldn’t be TOO surprising that, according to an unnamed executive, Kyle Dubas is highly interested in acquiring another left handed defenseman in Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers. The Hamilton, Ontario native fills a lot of boxes... he’s big (6’4”), plays heavy (119 hits this year), but he can pass the puck and contribute on offense (29 points this year).
Most importantly, for Dubas, he’s a former Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds guy!
He would also not be a rental, being a young and cost-controlled player with another year left on his bridge deal that he signed with Edmonton just this year for $3.2 million AAV. And even when the deal expires he would still be an RFA.
The unnamed executive says he’s heard from very trustworthy sources that a potential threeway deal is in the works between Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary. It would work out to something like this:
- The Leafs send Ron Hainsey to Calgary for defensive prospect, Andrew Nielsen
- The Leafs then packages Nielsen along with Connor Brown and a 2nd round pick to Edmonton
- Edmonton sends Darnell Nurse to Toronto/
In the end, each team gets something they need. Calgary gets a veteran defenseman for their playoff run as insurance in case their young trio of Valimaki, Kylington and Andersson struggle. Edmonton gets a winger to help fix their awful depth on the wing, a defensive prospect to replace Nurse who has size and offensive upside and a draft pick to help their rebuild continue. The Leafs, meanwhile, improve on defense AND get younger, more skilled at the same time.
According to the unnamed executive, it just makes too much sense for each team involved. What do you think, Leafs fans?
Who says no to the three-way deal?
Toronto | 431 |
Calgary | 450 |
Edmonton | 1200 |
No one, it makes perfect sense! | 1323 |
ONTO THE LINKS
Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Nicholas Baptiste from the Nashville Predators for AHLer Emerson Clark | by a collective of blogging representatives here at PPP
Back to Excited Episode 52: Beating the Habs | by Arvind and Fulemin
CWHL Recap: Playoff race heats up as Furies beat Blades 5-1 and Thunder fall to Canadiennes 2-1 | by nafio and Annie
Trade Deadline Preview: Toronto’s Unpredictable Deadline Day, Acquiring a Fourth Line Center, and Keeping an Eye on Boston and Tampa Bay | by Kevin Papetti at MLHS
Does Mike Babcock play his star players more in the playoffs? | by Ian Tulloch at The Athletic
Apparently Shane Doan was going to have his number retired last night, but he elbowed the banner-raiser in the head as he walked by.
TRADE DEADLINE LINKS
First, a refresher of information on Trade Deadline Day by Katya.
Brandon Montour was traded to Buffalo for a prospect and a pick.
First round pick and prospect Brendan Guhle going to Anaheim for Brandon Montour is my understanding
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 24, 2019
Word is that Wayne Simmonds might ACTUALLY be traded after all!
#Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher has now engaged in trade talks for Wayne Simmonds today. He’d been waiting until the last moment before deadline to give his team every chance to claw back in the race.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 25, 2019
Gustav Nyquist is going to the Sharks.
UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today acquired a second-round draft pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for RW Gustav Nyquist. pic.twitter.com/3gfwSmPVcy
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 25, 2019
Brian Gibbons is going to the Senators for Patrick Sieloff.
Anaheim has traded Brian Gibbons to Ottawa in exchange for Patrick Sieloff
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 25, 2019
Zuccarello, who was just traded to Dallas, may have broken his arm during his first game with the Stars.
Zuccarello is headed back to Dallas for evaluation but is expected to miss at least 4 weeks
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) February 24, 2019
Matt Duchene picking up his essentials from Ottawa.
Matt Duchene chartered a private jet, flew back to Ottawa today and picked up his wife, baby, dog and Ryan Dzingel and then flew back to Columbus.
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) February 24, 2019