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2021 NHL Trade Deadline: The Maple Leafs probably won’t make a move. – Pension Plan Puppets

Published

4 years ago

April 6, 2021

We are just under a week away from the 2021 NHL trade deadline and all anyone can talk about is the possible moves Kyle Dubas could make for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Should we be looking at this week as an important time for building the Maple Leafs? Last year the Leafs stood pat as punishment for a team who couldn’t be bothered to try hard and show up for practice after they lost to a damn zamboni driver.

This year, as noted above, there’s plenty of chatter about adding a goalie due to Frederik Andersen’s injury this season, or some depth players to help round out the line up. Depth adds are usually what most people talk about with the Maple Leafs, with the top six solidified and the salary cap pushed to the limit. Have they made major moves this late in the season? Let’s take a look back at the week leading up to trade deadlines of GMs Kyle Dubas and Lou Lamoriello.

February 24th, 2020

Last year’s deadline was done for the Maple Leafs because in the eyes of Kyle Dubas the team didn’t deserve any help.

We’ve shown enough throughout our run and since Sheldon has been at the helm to give you a great sense of optimism. We also have some games where we rightfully, I think, draw the doubts of a lot of people. The best way to put it is to use a Jekyll and Hyde way to describe it. I think it is up to our entire program — starting with me on to Sheldon and onto the players — to find our way out of it and be the best version of ourselves that we can every single day for our organization and our fan base in order to get where we want to go.

At the 2020 deadline the Maple Leafs did nothing but small, minor-league moves.

2020 Trade Deadline

IN	OUT
IN	OUT
Max Veronneau	Michael Hutchinson
Denis Malgin	Jordan Schmaltz
Miikka Salomaki	Martins Dzierkals
2020 5th round pick	Ben Harpur
Matt Lorito	Mason Marchment
Calle Rosen	Aaron Luchuk
	2021 Conditional 6th round pick

NHLTradeTracker.com

All the names coming in and going out are nobodies. Heck, Martins Dzierkals was just a body thrown into the three way deal with Vegas and Chicago to make it legal. The 5th round pick acquired was originally the Leafs’ pick in the first place, so they just got their own back (it was used on Dmitry Ovchinnikov). A big ol’ nothing of a trade deadline. The Leafs’ big moves came well ahead of time, bringing in Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford at the start of February.

February 25th, 2019

Two years ago was an even bigger pile of nothing. The day before the deadline the Leafs acquired Nick Baptiste from the Nashville Predators for “future considerations” and on deadline day itself the Leafs picked up Nic Petan from the Winnipeg Jets* for the oft forgotten Par Lindholm. Baptiste would end up in an AHL trade with Belleville for Miles Gendron, and Petan floats around between the Leafs and Marlies.

February 26th, 2018

Again only two trades in the week ahead of the deadline; Eric Fehr was sent to San Jose for a 2020 7th round pick (John Fusco) and on deadline day itself we got an actual trade that mattered:

From Montreal: Tomas Plekanec, Kyle Baun
From Toronto: Rinat Valiev, Kerby Rychel, 2018 2nd round pick

A real post-rebuild trade bringing in a veteran for the playoffs, Plekanec didn’t bring much in the regular season but in the series vs Boston he played like the Plekanec we knew he could be and scored four points in seven games. He’d go back to Montreal to play his 1,000th game the next season before leaving the NHL after that moment to play in the Cezch Republic. Kyle Baun was some guy.

The only big loss in the trade was the second round pick – Rychel and Valiev never panned out to NHL players. Montreal would select Jacob Olofsson, who is still playing in Sweden.

March 1st, 2017

A late deadline in 2017 gave the Maple Leafs time to make moves they thought would push them from builders to playoff participants, and participate they did.

Just over a week ahead of the deadline they moved Viktor Loov to the Devils for Sergey Kalinin who left the Marlies for the KHL as soon as he could.

Then five days ahead of the deadline they acquired Brian Boyle from the Lightning for Byron Froese and a 2017 2nd round pick (Alexander Volkov, later traded to the Ducks). Boyle wasn’t a huge impact for the Leafs and didn’t much care to be here. He would leave for New Jersey in the off-season.

On deadline day it was what the Leafs thought was their big move. They brought in Eric Fehr, Steven Oleksy, and a 2017 4th round pick (Vladislav Kara) for the often scratched internet hockey legend Frank Corrado. Fehr promptly got himself injured, and Oleksy never played in the NHL again. But, hey, Corrado got his much deserved full time NHL career that the Leafs were holding him back from, right? Right?

February 29th, 2016

Leap day gave the Maple Leafs an extra day to clear out some extra players they had lying around who were too good for the tanking team. After Dion Phaneuf was moved to the Senators at the start of February, the Leafs waited until the deadline to move a few more bodies.

February 21st: The Maple Leafs move Shawn Matthias to the Colorado Avalanche for Colin Smith and a 2016 4th round pick (Keaton Middleton). Matthias was a tank-year body, one of those guys who played every game ahead of the deadline and you forget was on the team. Colin Smith was an AHLer, and Keaton Middleton looks to be the same.

February 22nd: Maple Leafs send Roman Polak and Nick Spaling to the San Jose Sharks for Raffi Torres, a 2017 2nd (went to Anaheim, selected Maxime Comtois), and a 2018 2nd (Sean Durzi). The first of two trades with the Sharks, the Maple Leafs did Polak a favour and sent him to a contender while the Leafs would tell Torres to stay home. They would use both of the picks in trades – the 2017 pick was in the Frederik Andersen trade and the 2018 pick would become Sean Durzi who would be traded for Jake Muzzin.

February 27th, 2018: The Leafs hooked up with the Sharks once again, this time sending James Reimer and Jeremy Morin out west in exchange for Alex Stalock, Ben Smith, and a 2018 3rd round pick (Riley Stotts). Reimer would join Polak on the Sharks as they went to the Stanley Cup Final that year (losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins). Stalock would not be played by the Leafs in what he calls the “lowest point of my career”. Ben Smith was an NHL/AHL tweener, and Riley Stotts is still in the WHL.

February 28th, 2018: The next day the Leafs traded Daniel Winnik away for the second trade deadline in a row. The Leafs send Winnik and a 2016 5th round pick (Beck Malenstyn) to the Capitals for Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick, and a 2016 2nd round pick (Carl Grundstrom). The Capitals needed to move Laich for cap room, and Carrick was an uneven player at the time so he was easy to move.

Laich would later be assigned to the Marlies and waived for speaking out about his demotion, and Carrick would be waived a few seasons later and claimed by the Dallas Stars. Grundstrom would be moved to the LA Kings for Jake Muzzin.

Huh. Both prospects moved for Muzzin came out of this deadline. That’s kinda neat.

Those are all the week of moves from the Maple Leafs, and none of them were earth shaking. Parts of those trades became pieces of huge trades later on that gave us daily players for this team, but those moves weren’t done at the trade deadline.

The Maple Leafs in the cap era have never made a significant move at the trade deadline. The last time they made a trade that I would consider huge in the week leading up to the trade deadlines would be in the ahead of the lost season in 2004 when they brought in Ron Francis and Brian Leetch, and the deadline before that when they brought back Doug Gilmour and added Phil Housley and Glen Wesley.

Ah, the pre-cap days of insane deadline moves, I miss you.

The Maple Leafs could surprise us, but right now I’d bet on a quiet trade deadline.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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