tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Leaf Trade Rumors: Gardiner & Grabovski On The Move??

As we get closer to the February 27th NHL trade deadline, trade rumors involving the Toronto Maple Leafs change hourly and there is plenty of debate as to what this team needs. My opinion is that they need one (if they could two) big forward who can clear space for their talented smaller forwards. Think Ryan Malone or someone like a Brian Boyle (I am not saying that Brian Boyle is available).

There are two big stories floating around Toronto one involving Rick Nash and the other involving Mikhail Grabovski. Nash is the big Columbus Blue Jacket forward who is on the trading block. Nash has given the Blue Jackets five teams that he would agree to go to. One of those teams are the Toronto Maple Leafs. There has been plenty of speculation that Blue Jacket GM Scott Howsam would only consider a deal with the Leafs if rookie defenseman Jake Gardiner was involved. Quite frankly I say no thank you if I'm the Leafs. I've always liked Rick Nash as a player and would love to see him in a Leaf uniform, however the soon to be 28 year old comes with a $7.8 million price tag that runs through 2018. In addition, in order to get Nash it will take more than Gardiner including possibly Mikhail Grabovski and some experts are saying that Phil Kessel might have to be involved.

Moving either Grabovski or Kessel to get Nash makes no sense. If bringing Nash in is to provide more scoring it makes no sense to give up one of your top points producers to get him. Could you imagine Nash on a line with Grabovski?? Moving Grabovski basically means you have traded away your best center man. (more on this below) As far as Kessel goes, you would be trading away a 24 year old All-Star who appears to continue to improve his game and one has to wonder how much higher this kid can go if he had a big center to play with and this is not meant as any slight to Tyler Bozak. Who would you rather have centering Joffrey Lupul and Kessel: Bozak or someone like Ryan Getzlaf??

As far as moving Gardiner, I think that would be a huge mistake. As I have stated many times on this blog, Gardiner is the best young defenseman that this organization has had since Borje Salming. His skating ability is excellent and he leads all rookie defensemen in scoring. Many NHL scouts are saying that this kid can be something special. At the age of 21, Gardiner is already one of the Leafs top 4 defenseman and to move him would be a huge mistake. Having a young defenseman who can skate and has offensive ability to make plays are not easy to find. Gardiner could anchor this defense corp for 10-12 years. Getting Rick Nash would be great, but will the overall cost increase or decrease the team's chances to make the playoffs.

Yesterday Darren Dreger reported that the Leafs had an offer on the table for Mikhail Grabovski that included a second round pick and a top prospect. There was a belief that the Leafs could possibly hold out and get a first rounder and a top prospect. In twitter world it was speculated that the St.Louis Blues were the team involved but that has not been confirmed. Dreger went on to say that this could be an attempt by Brian Burke to put heat on the Grabovski camp to lower its contract demand to stay in Toronto as it has been reported that Mikhail loves living in Toronto.

If Brian Burke makes the deal as reported by Dreger and no other deal is made then it basically tells me that Burke does not believe that this team can make the playoffs and if they do make it they will be an easy mark for a Rangers or Bruins team. It is inconceivable to me that Burkie would move his best center man for a draft pick and propsect unless that draft pick is a top first round pick. Grabovski is the Leafs best center right now and moving him without getting anyone to replace him means that Tim Connolly becomes your 2nd line center. Somehow that doesn't inspire me.

Brian Burke's history with the Maple Leafs has been to make a deal that no one was expecting. It would seem that with the glut of defensemen that the team has that one of them would be included in a trade. I would think that Gardiner, Dion Phaneuf and John-Michael Liles would not be involved in a deal. But one thing is clear: I would be shocked if Burke does not make a trade. A big forward would be what I think the team needs and if it was a center man that would even be better. Only time will tell, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the Leafs have a tough one tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. Its a big game for the Leafs as the Washington Capitals pulled within one point of Toronto and Winnipeg is now only 4 points behind. This game will be a tough one and hopefully the Leafs will play with desperation tonight. James Reimer gets the start on Hockey Night In Canada. The puck drop is at 7:05pm.