The media is at it again.
As soon as the All-Star break concludes, the rumor mill starts churning.
After reports over the weekend linking Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke to Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan, a Jan. 30th tweet from Toronto radio personality Bill Watters has Leafs Nation buzzing about whether the Leafs could be pursuing Columbus left winger Rick Nash.
With Columbus' wretched start to the season, many in Leafland had posited the Leafs could be going after one of either Jeff Carter or Rick Nash, but this is the first fairly reliable insider that has mentioned Nash and Toronto in the same breath (or tweet).
The way Watters tells it, the deal would include Rick Nash and perennially injured winger Kristian Huselius coming to Toronto, with Mikhail Grabovski, Nazem Kadri, Luke Schenn and Mike Komisarek going the other way.
Could this deal actually be in the works? If so, would it be beneficial for Toronto?
To answer the first question, not likely.
As much as Rick Nash would help spread Toronto's attack across two lines, he has indicated previously that he isn't keen on coming to Toronto because of all the pressure. The fact that he has a no movement clause in his contract may present some difficulty in getting this deal done.
However, if the Leafs could prove that they are legitimate contenders to make the postseason without him, Nash may be tempted to accept a move to Toronto where he would be able to play playoff hockey, something he hasn't done much of since being drafted by Columbus.
As for whether or not it would help the Maple Leafs, of course it would.
Not only would you be bringing in an All-Star, Olympic gold medalist-caliber player, but there are other advantages to this deal.
For instance, take a look at the salary cap ramifications:
Salary cap hit coming to Toronto: $12.55 million ($7.8 million for Nash, $4.75 million Huselius).
Salary cap hit going to Columbus: $12.72 million ($4.5 million for Komisarek, $3.6 million for Luke Schenn, $2.9 million for Mikhail Grabovski and $1.72 million for Nazem Kadri).
This means that the Leafs could pull this deal off and still be under the salary cap.
An additional benefit of this proposed deal would be that Kristian Huselius' $4.75 million salary would come off the books at the end of the season.
That money, along with other salary coming off the books, could then be spent to find a true No. 1 center (whether it be on the free agent market or via trade), or to re-sign free-agent-to-be Joffrey Lupul.
Moving Komisarek's contract could also assist the Toronto Maple Leafs as it would make room on the blue line for younger defensemen Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson to continue their development, while ridding Toronto of one of its more robust contracts.
As for Columbus, they'd be bringing in two defensive-minded blue liners (something this season has shown us that they're in desperate need of), while also receiving a phenomenal talent in Nazem Kadri. If Mikhail Grabovski would re-sign with Columbus (which is by no means a given), it would also give them a solid 60-point center. All that coupled with a potential first overall selection of Russian sensation Nail Yakupov could really jump start Columbus' rebuild.
Let me know what you think Leafs Nation. Leave a comment in the comments section below telling me whether you think this trade is realistic and whether or not you would pull the trigger on this deal if you were Brian Burke.
Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson Nick Johnson Javier Lopez
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen