Don't Expect The Maple Leafs To Trade Any Of Their Pending UFAs

PUBLICATION

February 9, 2018 (12:23)

SHARE THIS STORY

"Insider Bob McKenzie was a guest on TSN 1050 AM Wednesday to discuss the Toronto Maple Leafs plans heading towards the NHL trade deadline. Although some fans are hoping to see some big moves, especially with their pending unrestricted free agents, but McKenzie doesn't think much will happen.
«I don't think the Leafs are looking at trading any of van Riemsdyk, Bozak or Komarov,» said McKenzie, per Maple Leafs Hot Stove. «I think we all know there is a plan in place, and it's called the Shana-plan. They don't lay it out there and plans change on a daily basis, but I would take a pretty good guess that, coming into this season, the foundation of the Shana-plan is that, «We've become a pretty good team and we certainly have a chance to compete in the playoffs against just about anybody. It doesn't mean we're a front-line Cup contender, but we're in the playoffs and we'd be happy taking our chances with the group we have right now. It's a pretty good hockey team.» That's the basis on which I think they approach this season.»
McKenzie said that the «Shana-plan» does not include trading away prospects and draft picks to load up on rental players.
«There is a school of thought among some Leafs fans that the window has never been more open,» he said. «If you got the kids � Matthews, Nylander, Marner � on their entry-level contracts, and you're not dealing with any financial pressures, now is the time. You've got to surround them with talent and really go for it in the next two or three years because you might not be able to keep the band together.»
The team seems like they are ok if they lose their veterans to free agency in order to make a run this season.
«At the end of the day, I think if van Riemsdyk walks and Bozak walks and Komarov walks, they'll replace them with younger, cheaper talent, but they want to have those guys in their lineup to give themselves the best possible chance to beat the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning; to see how deep they can go and continue the maturation process for these kids. I don't think they want to leave the kids hanging on the vine with a huge hole at third-line center.»"

MUST READ