The Toronto Maple Leafs made changes on Trade Deadline Day, just not via trades. That means players including P.A. Parenteau, Michael Grabner and Brad Boyes remain members of the Blue & White.
While there were rumors that Parenteau could have returned to the New York Islanders earlier in the day, the fact that the Islanders acquired Shane Prince from the Ottawa Senators means that potential deal fell through. Rumors about Grabner and Boyes didn’t even come up. Although, you have to expect this when the general manager is Lou Lamoriello.
So how does this happen? The Leafs did a great job of trading players before the deadline. Dion Phaneuf, Roman Polak, James Reimer, Nick Spaling, Shawn Matthias and Daniel Winnik were all dealt for varying returns involving draft picks and prospects. However, the Leafs just couldn’t find a trading partner at the deadline. This after reports that the Leafs told Jared Cowen they would do the best to trade him. Lamoriello did announce that Cowen would not play another game this season and they would buy him out on July 1.
Parenteau has said that he would be open to re-signing with the Maple Leafs in the offseason. If the Leafs want to get something for him, that’s what they will have to do so they can trade him at next year’s deadline. If not, they will lose Parenteau and others for nothing.
The Future Is Now
The big news out of Toronto on Deadline Day was that they called up William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov, Zach Hyman and the recently acquired Ben Smith from the Toronto Marlies. In a corresponding move, the Leafs loaned Mark Arcobello, Brendan Leipsic and Josh Leivo to the Marlies. All the players who got called up, as well as Garret Sparks, will still be able to participate in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Most of the call-ups will be making their NHL debuts on Monday night. You might say the future starts now for the Leafs as Leafs fans will get their first look at Nylander, Kapanen, Soshnikov and Hyman. Its also possible that Brooks Laich and Connor Carrick, acquired on Sunday night, could also make their Leafs debuts on Monday.
Of course, the joke is that the Maple Leafs made the call-ups they did to show Steven Stamkos, who they play on Monday, who he could be playing with next season if he chooses to sign with Toronto. Whether he does or not, we’ll get a good look at the Leafs’ future tonight and as the season winds down.
So what do you think about the Leafs inactivity today? Are you excited to get the first look at Nylander in the regular season?
