Trade Deadline!

3:38pm- Leafs acquire a young defenseman from Pittsburgh for a sixth round pick.

3:16pm- Joey MacDonald goes to Anaheim for a 7th round pick. Definately a step up from Vesa Toskala for the Ducks.

3:11pm- 4th and 7th round picks coming to TO for Stempniak.

3:07pm- Stempniak to Phoenix/Hamilton for Draft picks being reported...my prediction is a third and fourth rounder.

3:03pm- Deadline! However, trades are still coming through, will keep posted on the Stempniak trade...and anything else involving the Leafs.

2:57pm- According to Downgoesbrown Stempniak deal is done...no word where or what for.

2:43pm- According to Darren Dreger "Stempniak is going to go."

2:38pm- Darren Dreger is reporting that the Leafs are not done yet.

2:15pm- Burke says something coming within 45 minutes...I sure as hell hope so.

2:10pm- Kypreos reporting that Toskala is on his move once again, this time to Calgary...I guess he won't be able to wash the black and gold out of his equipment.

1:51pm- We're approaching the final stretch, I have a feeling Kabs is going.

1:31pm- AM 640's Jonas Siegel states that Kaberle acknowledged the he will waive his NTC if the right deal comes along.

1:14pm- All's quiet on the Leafs' front still...

12:19pm- Listening to Pony on the Leafs TV live feed online. Classy guy, we'll miss you too Pony, good luck in Pittsburgh!

12:14pm- Reported that Burke has said "with the players we are looking at moving things wont start heating up until 1:30 or 2 pm," let's see what players he's talking about.

11:48- Justin Pogge goes to Carolina for Aaron Ward....interesting trade...apparently Carolina hasn't seen any Leafs games with Pogge from last year.

11:18 am- Leafs get a 5th rounder in 2010 for Skoula...nothing fantastic.

11:00 AM- Martin Skoula to the Devils, no word on who the Leafs are getting back, will update when word is heard.




Well, we're back from the Olympics and the Leafs are back to their losing ways. However, Burke trades Ponikarovsky to Pittsburgh for Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula. Yet another one off my list of potential people to be tarded.

Caputi is a rookie who only has 9 NHL games under his belt, 3 points in those 9 games. The one thing I know about this kid...he has a sick name! But besides that, Burkie is continuing the trend of going younger: Ponikarovsky is 29 years old, Caputi, just 21.

Based on speculations that I have heard, the Leafs might be trading Skoula. The Leafs got Skoula so that the Pens could work out their cap issues. Skoula has 193 points in 757 NHL games. This year with the Pittsburgh Penguins skoula has 8 points (3G, 5A) in 33 games.

If the Leafs decide to keep Skoula, it could mean a guy like Exelby or Finger is heading out: Exelby being in the last year of a contract and Finger being a burden on the cap.

Rumors are also swirling that Burke is aware of teams Kaberle would waive his NTC for, however no official list has been given. The ball STILL is in Kabby's court.

Players I suspect will be traded: Stempniak, Finger, Exelby, Grabovsky and maybe even Primeau. I will try to update today as much as possible as more news breaks.

Who's left to trade?

The Leafs played an amazing game tonight, whitewashing the Devils 3-0. Giguere is only the second goalie in Leafs history to record a shutout in his debut (the first being Eddie Belfour in 2002). And the three stars for tonights game? Sjostrom, Phaneuf, and Giguere: Burke is going to be sleeping well tonight, that's for sure!

In an earlier post I talked about potential players to trade. Well, I listed 5 of them...3 of them have been traded, I feel good about myself for that one.

Tomas Kaberle (as I mentioned earlier)- Obvious, it's been talked about for years, but he won't waive his No-Trade Clause and Burke won't ask him to. However, since making that statement, Kaberle's ice time has decreased: coincidence? He is probably the Leafs biggest asset, he can be the difference between being eliminated in the 2nd round of the playoffs, and making it to the finals. I would hate to see him go, but the Leafs can get something decent for him, potentially a first-round pick. Perhaps the accquisition of Phaneuf is going to be a factor in getting Tomas to waive his NTC. On Sportsnet, it was said that Tomas Kaberle jerseys are being sold for half-price.

Alexei Ponikarovsky- (As I mentioned earlier)The "Big Pony" has been fairly decent this season. He can be an affective goal scorer as long as he is surrounded by the right line mates. Perhaps he'd look good in Nashville. When Brian Burke stated he was going to try making another trade before the Olympic roster freeze, speculation immediately started that Ponikarovsky was next. Who knows? maybe he is, Burke blew up this team once, let's see if he'll do it again.

Mikhail Grabovski- Well, now we see why Montreal was so eager to get rid of him. However, he does have SOME good qualities...such as...he's fast, that's about it. If you're looking for a passer, or someone who keeps their head up...steer clear of Grabbo. However, he is fast, and he can score sometimes...he'd make a decent third liner on a real team.

Joey MacDonald- Assuming all goes well with Giguere and the Leafs decide to keep him. Joey MacDonald would be a decent goalie for a team looking for a backup (like Anaheim when they see Toskala actually play). He held is own pretty well on a league-worst New York Islanders. I'm not sure Burke's plans with MacDonald for the future, but if it's just to stay in the Marlies, you might as well trade him.

Jeff Finger- Okay now hear me out, I know no one would take on his contract unless the team has JFJ as their GM however, Finger does have some qualities that may make him appealing. He's a big hitter and is known for his open ice hits. He can score from the point on the powerplay. I expect Burke to try dealing him because you can't have an overpaid defenceman sitting on the sidelines.

That's all for now. Enjoy your new-look Leafs Leafs Nation. See you next time!