Could Maple Leafs add Nash AND Carter?

It would be the biggest trade of the year: Rick Nash and Jeff Carter to Toronto for Tim Connolly, Mike Komisarek, Colby Armstrong, Korbinian Holzer, Jesse Blacker plus a 1st rounder and a 2nd rounder. Colborne gets callup to join Nash and Carter as three additions for Leafs playoff drive.

Some may see it as one-sided toward the Leafs, however the contracts they send to Columbus are a LOT shorter than the ones they are taking on, so the Blue Jackets will have plenty of room to sign their own RFAs in coming years and still play in the free agent market (while still getting the four youngsters they seek in Holzer, Blacker and two picks). Toronto is one of the few teams with the financial strength that would allow them to take on both Carter and Nash.

Nash names Toronto Maple Leafs as one of five teams he'll play for

According to Calgary Herald, Bruins, Kings, Rangers and Sharks also in mix

Rick Nash, so far the biggest name on the NHL rumour mill ahead of the Feb. 27 trade deadline, has given the Columbus Blue Jackets a list of five teams to which he'll OK a trade, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

According to the Dispatch, the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs "are believed to be on the approved list."

The paper also says the Jackets are seeking at least one young player on an NHL team's roster, as well as top prospects and draft picks.

Sharks net Moore

The San Jose Sharks added depth at the centre position Thursday night by acquiring Dominic Moore from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The deal sees the Lightning land a second-round pick while handing over a seventh-round pick to San Jose. The second-rounder originally belonged to the Minnesota Wild.

The well-travelled Moore, 31, has also played for the Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Toronto, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens.

In 56 games with Tampa this season, Moore had four goals and 15 assists.

Meanwhile, the Lightning plan to keep Pavel Kubina out of the lineup while attempting to trade the veteran defenceman. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman announced the decision Thursday.

Tampa Bay entered Thursday 13th in the Eastern Conference and is a longshot to make the playoffs.

Kubina, 34, has 11 points and is plus-1 in 52 games this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs #1 overall in NHL

Deep Leafs squad, sharp Scrivens debut too much for Columbus

While Jonas Gustavsson was not able to ignite a goaltending controversy while filling in for James Reimer, there may soon be a battle brewing for the backup position. With Ben Scrivens throwing down a stellar debut in a 4-1 win over Columbus Blue Jackets, it seems to be getting clearer by the day that the best pair of goalies the Leafs have right now includes a guy with the first name Ben. It's not to say that Scrivens won't go back to the Marlies and continue his winning ways there, however when one looks to Spring and the NHL playoffs, you want to begin with two guys that are each a number one. The Monster has shown flashes of brilliance, and at age 27 may be just finding his stride, but with Reimer at 23 and Scrivens now 25, either Gustavsson or Rynas will likely be gone by the trade deadline.

There's also no rush to trade Cody Franson, as we don't really know yet what we need back. If a crazy offer came in Burke would likely take it, but another month of wear and tear will give us a better idea of what's required to go beyond my pre-season expectation of making it into the 2nd round of the playoffs. The penalty kill is the most glaring deficiency, yet there are still options within the team that may figure it out, together with the new assistant coaches. A fair bit of the recent troubles were due to a feeble box out that didn't pressure the puck, misreading the positions of opposition forwards and, hate to say it, erratic netminding by the Monster.

Biggest pleasant surprises of the year so far for Leafs:

Jake Gardiner - I wanted him to challenge for quarterback of the power play at camp, as I felt he could be as good as Liles and would be too skilled for the AHL. In fact, he has exceeded my expectations, so let me ask: Would you trade him for PK Subhan? You have to think about it now, whereas a few months ago you wouldn't even ask the question. He'll be playing for Burke and Team USA at the 2014 Olympics.

Joffrey Lupul - Kessel is an amazing passer, but Lupul has also scored a lot of goals through hustle and sharp play.

Kessel - I wanted him to watch Mike Bossy vids during the Summer; looks like whatever he did, his progress as top level NHL sniper continues, and he's been outscoring Ovechkin for over half a year now.

Phaneuf - From the first game after the Kaberle trade, the defence and the team belong to Dion, and he leads by example. Say no more.

With MacArthur, Crabb, Connolly and Grabovski all contributing offensively, and players such as Colbourne, Kadri, Frattin and Boyce on the Marlies, the Maple Leafs are stocked from the nets out. If Colbourne is going to come up to the Leafs this year, then a package of players could be moved for a strong college player, a top AHL prospect that can finish the year with the Marlies, and possibly a draft pick.

The ShanahaNHL is a fast-paced league with little room for cheap shots, and young teams such as Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa are striving ahead of the pack. We need to stay youthful and fast, rolling four lines over the boards with speed and passion.

Here is the list of Toronto Maple Leafs that I believe may be traded in coming months (first posted last week):

Darryl Boyce
Jussi Rynnas
Nazem Kadri
Cody Franson
Rosehill or Orr, not both
Korbinian Holzer
Mike Zigomanis
Marcel Mueller
Brayden Irwin
Simon Gysbers
Juraj Mikus


Here is my updated and expanded list as of tonight, with the Leafs in first place overall in the National Hockey League:

Darryl Boyce
Cody Franson
Korbinian Holzer
Jonas Gustavsson or Jussi Rynnas, not both
Nazem Kadri
Rosehill or Orr, not both
Josh Engel
Mike Zigomanis
Marcel Mueller
Brayden Irwin
Simon Gysbers
Juraj Mikus
Will Acton


What's your offer?

Kaberle may want to check with Vancouver

Sedin twins need replacement for Erhoff

Vancouver can either rebuild for the future, or retool for this year, and if they choose the latter path, Tomas Kaberle could be a suitable replacement for the now-departed Christian Erhoff.

The Sedins need someone to get the puck up fast, and Kabs can do it.

Leafs-Bruins trade: Kaberle for Wheeler, Stuart

Although nothing has been announced yet, speculation about a Tomas Kaberle trade from Toronto to Boston is growing by the hour. As the Bruins are seeking a puck-carrying defenceman and the Toronto Maple Leafs want to get younger still, here is one possible scenario:

From Toronto to Boston:

Tomas Kaberle, D, 32 (33 on March 2nd)
Fredrik Sjostrom, LW, 27


From Boston to Toronto:

Blake Wheeler, RW, 24
Mark Stuart, D, 26


Though this may seem one-sided as Kaberle is by far the best player, he is a free agent at the end of the year and the Leafs will have an opportunity to sign him again this summer. Toronto also would receive players that are cumulatively 9 years younger than the players traded away.

Other possibilities include Boston trading a goalie prospect, or even one of their 2 first round 2011 draft picks (Toronto, Boston).