It seems, according to the latest report that just because the Toronto Maple Leafs and president Brendan Shanahan and new head coach Mike Babcock shipped sniper Phil Kessel off to Pittsburgh, Leafs fans shouldn't assume their franchise is done making major decisions.
Defenseman and captain Dion Phaneuf, center Tyler Bozak and winger Joffrey Lupul all remain on the trade block at this point, according to a report from TheFourthPeriod.com.
Per the report, nothing is imminent, though talks on all the players are considered to be "ongoing."
Phaneuf's name has come in conjunction with the Detroit Red Wings, who were said to be working on a trade for the big, expensive blueliner ahead of the NHL's March trade deadline, in the past, but per the TFP report, it seems like the Los Angeles Kings are the likeliest destination for Phaneuf at this point.
The 30-year-old Phaneuf has six years remaining on a seven-year, $49 million contract he signed just prior to the 2014-15 season. Last year for the Leafs, Phaneuf appeared in 70 games, gathering three goals, 26 assists and a minus-11 rating. He remains a strong veteran presence and a decent overall player, but his limited movement skills mean he's no longer quick enough to keep up with the faster forwards in the league, which is especially troublesome considering the continually changing nature of the NHL game.
It seems Phaneuf trade talks with the Kings have been "dialed down," according to the report, but Los Angeles remains a potential destination for the big blueliner.
The expectation that Bozak would be dealt seemed to skyrocket in the wake of the Kessel trade. Bozak was Kessel's preferred linemate, but consistently failed to live up to expectations as the Leafs de facto No. 1 center. He's got three years remaining on his deal, with an AAV of $4.2 million. A buyout is possible if the Leafs can't find any takes for his services, though TFP notes that the Arizona Coyotes have shown interest.
Lupul, now 31, has struggled with injuries and thus consistency the past few seasons. He's got three years remaining on his contract, which will pay him $5.25 million annually through the 2017-18 season.
Considering his recent injury history and the dearth of established scoring talent at the NHL level, the Leafs are likely to wait until the trade deadline in the hopes that Lupul finally manages to stay healthy long enough for them to trade him to a contending team desperate for that final piece to put them over the top.
