No, the veteran forward was not called into general manager Brad Treliving’s office at the Ford Performance Centre to discuss a trade.
Is it possible a trade could happen before the Leafs start the 2024-25 regular season on October 9 in Montreal against the Canadiens?
Changes need to be made in the next week or so. With the Leafs currently $1,069,667 over the salary cap (according to puckpedia.com), they must become compliant before their game in Montreal.
Additionally, consider the situation with forwards Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz, who are both at camp on professional tryouts.
Since Pacioretty’s name was first associated with the Leafs during the off-season, there was a strong expectation that he would be signed. So far, nothing in camp suggests otherwise. The Leafs believe that playing alongside John Tavares could help rejuvenate Pacioretty, who has only scored seven goals in 53 games over the past two seasons due to injuries limiting his play.
There is a growing belief that a contract is also in the works for Lorentz. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 216 pounds, Lorentz wasn’t invited to camp merely to intensify the competition for spots in the bottom six; Treliving and the coaching staff see him as someone who can bring a genuine, physical presence to the fourth line, which he has demonstrated.
Speculation is rising about whether the Leafs might consider trading Jarnkrok, who is currently recovering from a lower-body issue while attempting to return to full participation in practice. Jarnkrok has a cap hit of $2.1 million for this season and next, along with a 10-team no-trade list.
Additionally, there’s David Kampf, who is arguably overpaid at $2.4 million, a cap hit he will carry for the next three seasons. He also has a 10-team no-trade list. Since fourth-line centers are relatively common, Pontus Holmberg, who earns $800,000 and will become a restricted free agent, presents a more cost-effective alternative. The same goes for Connor Dewar, who should not be overlooked as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery.
The Leafs’ top six defensemen appear to be finalized with Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Simon Benoit, and Timothy Liljegren.
If Conor Timmins is not part of the team’s plans, trading his $1.1 million contract could help ease some salary cap pressure.
Defenceman Jani Hakanpaa is expected to begin practicing soon, as coach Craig Berube expressed hope for his recovery from a knee injury on Saturday. Once Hakanpaa is ready, he will likely secure a spot in the top six, pushing Timmins further down the depth chart.
There is also the option for the Leafs to start the season with Hakanpaa and Dewar on long-term injured reserve, which would address some cap issues. However, both players are currently skating and eager to return as soon as possible.
If Treliving decides to make a trade in the coming days, he is likely to follow a similar strategy as last year when he needed to create cap space. Forward Sam Lafferty was traded to the Vancouver Canucks just before the regular season began, with Toronto receiving a fifth-round pick in return.
One player who should not be traded, despite his previous request, is Nick Robertson. With the right opportunities, a 20-goal season is within reach for the 23-year-old. Last season, Robertson scored 14 goals in 56 games while averaging just 11 minutes and 23 seconds of ice time per game. Although he may have been disappointed that his off-season trade request didn’t pan out, he hasn’t shown any negativity during camp.
There is still time for Treliving and his cap expert, assistant general manager Brandon Pridham, to find a way to balance the finances. The real challenge lies in how they plan to achieve that.
LOOSE LEAFS
Winger Bobby McMann sat out practice on Saturday for maintenance, as he is a bit sore and banged up from training camp, but coach Berube confirmed that he’s fine. John Tavares also took another day off to rest following some lower-body stiffness during Thursday’s preseason win against the Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.
On defenseman Jani Hakanpaa, Berube stated, “He has done really well. There was a process when he got here, and I think that process has been going well.”
With only two preseason games left—a home-and-home series against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday in Detroit and Saturday in Toronto—it’s expected that Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz will each get a full game in goal.
Berube shared his thoughts on the Leafs as they reach the midpoint of camp and the preseason: “I’m excited and happy with where the team’s at. But there’s still a lot of work to do. The penalty kill is new, and we need to keep refining it, along with our defensive zone play. There are many aspects that require our attention. Next week is crucial for us in practice.”
The team will head to Muskoka on Monday afternoon for a short getaway, which will include a practice in the area. Ryan Reaves emphasized the importance of this trip, stating, “It’s a great way to get to know the new guys better, build team cohesion, and have some fun before the grind and emotions of the first few weeks set in.”