Official Rumours Thread

[trevc3]

I often find myself searching high and low across the world wide just to find a morsel or two of a Leaf rumour.I often come to this board in hopes of someone compiling the more recent rumours, but rarely such luck. From now on I'll try to post the rumours as I find them. I think we all know Burke will place his stamp on this team before the March 4th (I think) trade deadline. Here are some of the more recent rumours I have found, and in case the debate rages, I do not endorse the credibility of any of these rumours, they are just here for fun...


Leafs Making Pitch for Kovalchuk?

Kovalchuk rumours intensify every day, and will continue to despite Waddell not even listening to offers. Toronto, Minnesota, Edmonton and the NY Islanders are the top teams in this race...

Burke to Make Young Defenceman #1 Off-Season Priority

The Leafs are working on a plan to sign Jay Bo this summer. A source last night at the game said it would be "Burke's #1, 2 and 3 priority." Given Burke's history of building through a solid defense, it makes all the sense in the world.

Source: Eklund http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1

Burke to Take Longer Look at Pogge, Toskala No Future With Leafs?

It is also a given that the Leafs will summon farm-hand Justin Pogge for a longer look but as Burke told the Toronto Sun, “…not because he’s earned it. It’s because we have to see what we have in him.” Presumably, that wouldn’t be an issue if Burke were convinced he could move into contention with Toskala.

Source: Both Howard Berger (http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?blogger_id=3) and Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun



That's about all for now, should be more as we close in on the deadline. The Kovalchuk rumours is obviously all smoke amd mirrors as Eklund goes on to say how Waddel isn't even listening to offers. Hard to see a guy dealt when you won't hear an offer. The Bo rumour has been around for awhile, but it's nice to see it confirmed. Makes you almost want to see Kaberle stay...Kaberle-Bo and Schenn-White would be a nice top 4 for next year.

Cheers.

[CPT]

I'd love to see an explosive scoring machine like Kovalchuk or Gaborik (who we've also shown interest in if I'm not mistaken) in a Leafs uniform.

Bouwmeester would be nice too, but it seems like we've been interested in him forever with nothing happening.

[Crowned]

I'd rather not give up assets for Bouwmeester at this point. I'd much rather wait until he's a FA, even if we end up in a bidding war and overpay. He'd be worth the money.

I'd break the bank for Kovalchuck. I'd give up anyone not named Schenn in return. Players of his calibre don't come around very often. He's exactly the type of player you build a franchise around.

[sh00n]

I'd rather not give up assets for Bouwmeester at this point. I'd much rather wait until he's a FA, even if we end up in a bidding war and overpay. He'd be worth the money.

I'd break the bank for Kovalchuck. I'd give up anyone not named Schenn in return. Players of his calibre don't come around very often. He's exactly the type of player you build a franchise around.

You guys would be in an AWESOME position if you got Chuck. Schenn, Chuck and then throw a huge amount of money at Bouwmeester and that would look real nice moving forward.

[Marmoset]

I just typed out a nice long response to the Kovalchuk idea that got deleted.

But to sum that up: under no circumstances should the Leafs trade for Kovalchuk or any other star player this season. In order to get someone like him, it will either cost some of the few picks/prospects they have, or the assets they need to get additional picks/prospects such as Kaberle and Antropov.

The Leafs need to build depth. Bring Kovalchuk here, and it would be little different than the current situation in Atlanta where he has nobody to play with.

In two years this might make sense, but not know. We should concentrate on getting picks and prospects, and on signing guys like Bouwmeester or Nash if and when they become free agents. The Leafs just can't afford the resources it would take to trade for them. Remember, the Leafs will be far from the only team chasing these guys - they won't come cheap.

[Marmoset]

Since this is the rumours thread, here's one purely for entertainment value:

I am also hearing reports of Olli Jokinen to the Leafs (e3). There is some chatter that a deal that would send both Doan and Jokinen to Toronto has been discussed.

More on that in just a bit here...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/I ... e3/1/18936

That's got to be one of the most ridiculous rumours I've ever heard, on so many levels.

[RomaniaLuvTR]

Since this is the rumours thread, here's one purely for entertainment value:

I am also hearing reports of Olli Jokinen to the Leafs (e3). There is some chatter that a deal that would send both Doan and Jokinen to Toronto has been discussed.

More on that in just a bit here...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/I ... e3/1/18936

That's got to be one of the most ridiculous rumours I've ever heard, on so many levels.

yeah that`s no way we can acquire them right now

[juucer]

Thanks for throwing this together... good thread. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say hopefully you can keep it up!!

As far as the rumours go:
-I would like to make an assumption that Kovalchuk is NOT on Burke's priority list. He's one of the best in the league no doubt, but also has an aura of "me first" attitude, which is not the type of guy Burke & Wilson want.

-I think Burke is willing to outbid ANYONE for Bouwmeester, and he will be a Leaf this offseason. Top notch defensemen are something Burke loves, specifically smooth skating, sound defensively, hard-nosed guys (see Neidermayer, Pronger). Bo meets this criteria to a T.

-I have a feeling Burke will also do something drastic at the draft that will somehow land us Tavares. Say we end with pick #3, for example... he'll somehow trade up to #1 and get his future top center. Just a feeling though.

[Test of Wills]

I want the Leafs to tank for at least this season and next season...

Trade Kaberle for a prospect and a draft pick.

Trade Antropov for a 1st round draft pick.

Trade Kubina for a propsect and a late round draft pick.

Rebuild. Rebuild and Rebuild...

Then we can go after Rick Nash in 2010. But I can guarantee you Travis Moen and Sammy Paulsson will be Leafs next season.

[The-Insider]

I was just thinking of the possibilities if Bouwmeester was a Leaf... and now to stumble across this rumor... awesome.

Not a big fan to throw a long-term pricy contract on Gabroik. World class player but never healthy..

I just want a top three pick… and let the lottery play out. It’s our only shot at Tavares and the Isles aren’t moving anywhere. Worst case scenario we walk away with #3 but at least we’ll have a shot at Tavares.

[Blazer_2458]

Another one that hasnt been mentioned here:

As per gmhockey.com, the leafs would like to add good veteran presence to their lineup (to help groom the kids) and Burke is trying hard to land a package that would include Pronger and Kunitz. Whether or not Anaheim is ready to deal with their former GM remains to be seen.

[The-Insider]

Any new rumours?

[Crowned]

Antropov was almost traded last weekend to Pittsburh per the Globe and Mail.

Two deals were mentioned:

Antropov for Ryan Whitney

Antropov for Alex Goligoski and a first

Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied he has been talking to the Penguins about shipping out forward Nik Antropov, but there were whispers something may have been close last weekend. One possibility bandied about had Antropov swapped for Penguins defenceman Ryan Whitney. Another option was a first-round selection and young blueliner Alex Goligoski in exchange for Antropov. There also was belief that if the Penguins acquired Antropov, he may have been used as part of a package for a trade to the Atlanta Thrashers for scoring whiz Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong.

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/se...rtsHockey/home

[The-Insider]

Antropov was almost traded last weekend to Pittsburh per the Globe and Mail.

Two deals were mentioned:

Antropov for Ryan Whitney

Antropov for Alex Goligoski and a first

Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied he has been talking to the Penguins about shipping out forward Nik Antropov, but there were whispers something may have been close last weekend. One possibility bandied about had Antropov swapped for Penguins defenceman Ryan Whitney. Another option was a first-round selection and young blueliner Alex Goligoski in exchange for Antropov. There also was belief that if the Penguins acquired Antropov, he may have been used as part of a package for a trade to the Atlanta Thrashers for scoring whiz Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong.

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/se...rtsHockey/home

Woah so Pittsburgh was looking to trade for Illya and looking to keep Crosby and Malkin? Or was it the Leafs who were going to use Antropov in a package for Kovalchuk?

[The-Insider]

Sound like Kaberle and Kubina are going to submit their top 10 wish lists to Burke.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/To ... 6-sun.html

As long as this list is not made public and ties Burke's hand then it's ok. The article mentions that there is a period in the offseason were Bruke can trade both without their consent, so this is in their best interests to agree and be shipped now to a desired team. Burke imo has the upper hand in this situation, he can go which way he wants.

[Crowned]

Antropov was almost traded last weekend to Pittsburh per the Globe and Mail.

Two deals were mentioned:

Antropov for Ryan Whitney

Antropov for Alex Goligoski and a first

Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied he has been talking to the Penguins about shipping out forward Nik Antropov, but there were whispers something may have been close last weekend. One possibility bandied about had Antropov swapped for Penguins defenceman Ryan Whitney. Another option was a first-round selection and young blueliner Alex Goligoski in exchange for Antropov. There also was belief that if the Penguins acquired Antropov, he may have been used as part of a package for a trade to the Atlanta Thrashers for scoring whiz Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong.

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/se...rtsHockey/home

Woah so Pittsburgh was looking to trade for Illya and looking to keep Crosby and Malkin? Or was it the Leafs who were going to use Antropov in a package for Kovalchuk?

By the sounds of it, Pittsburgh was looking to acquire Ilya using Antropov as bait. It doesn't make much sense, as I'm sure Atlanta would prefer Goligoski and a first (which would be used to acquire Antropov) in a package anyways.

[mcleex]

I hope this keeps up. The Leafs forum is dead compared to the Raptors.
We need a lot of people contributing.

[The-Insider]

God this hurts, kept trying to tell myself it was only a rumour. Jeff Carter and a 1st?

SUNRISE, Fla. - The Maple Leafs aren't certain they want to deal veteran defenseman Tomas Kaberle, but he has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and provided general manager Brian Burke with a list of 10 cities in which he will agree to play.

According to two sources with direct knowledge of the list, Boston is among the 10 teams.

"Kaberle is not going anywhere, unless someone blows me away," Burke wrote by e-mail yesterday.

Kaberle, who turns 31 March 2, has been sidelined since the end of January with a fracture in his right hand. He was rumored to be headed to Philadelphia at last year's trade deadline, but, according to reports at the time, Kaberle blocked a move orchestrated by then-GM Cliff Fletcher that would have brought the Leafs center Jeff Carter and a first-round draft pick.

If a club stepped up with a similar offer on or before this season's March 4 trade deadline, that could be enough for Burke.

Kaberle is considered a rare commodity: a puck-moving defenseman who is on the books for two more years at a relatively economical $4.25 million per season. Some of the game's best puck-moving defensemen command at least 50 percent more money, including Chicago's Brian Campbell ($7.14 million cap hit) and San Jose's Dan Boyle ($6.67 million).

Kaberle is expected to be ready by next week

[The-Insider]

I hope this keeps up. The Leafs forum is dead compared to the Raptors.
We need a lot of people contributing.

I agree, this board has potential, but outside of the basketball boards nothing else seems to have any traffic, NFL, MLB, or NHL. Hoping that changes in the next few years.

[The-Insider]

With the trade deadline around the corner, Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is already receiving trade offers for some of his players, the Toronto Sun reports.

According to the paper, Burke was proposed a trade Tuesday and the team's staff is looking into the player offered.

"We're really looking into the player," Burke told the Sun.

Burke also confirmed he received an offer for Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn. While the offer included what's expected to be a top-five first-round pick, the Leafs were not interested.

"It was a short conversation," Burke said. "I asked him, 'You want me to trade a top five pick, someone who might eventually be able to play, for an 18-year-old who is playing 22 minutes a game right now?' "

Burke also acknowledged the difficulty surrounding a possible trade involving defenseman Tomas Kaberle.

Kaberle has a no-trade clause, and while the All-Star blueliner would accept a move to certain teams, Burke said "it has to be a deal that blows my doors off and that hasn't happened."

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/To ... 6-sun.html