Organizing a training camp with 69 players has been a detailed process for the Leafs staff and next up is the eight-game pre-season schedule, beginning with a split-squad doubleheader Monday in Ottawa and Toronto.
“Watched the Leafs win the cup in ’67, black and white TV”, Clarence said. He could be really good for the Marlies, but realistically, after giving up Kessel, the Maple Leafs need to keep something on their National Hockey League roster.
Grabner has now become the eighth quality impending UFA on the Leafs roster, and he has a great chance of finishing the season elsewhere. This includes options like PA Parenteau, Mark Arcobello, Shawn Matthias and Nick Spaling.
Harrington spent the season going up and down, spending most of his time with the Penguins AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Having a handful of contract spots to work with in the pre-season would also allow the Leafs to make another trade or claim a player off waivers.
During the 2014-2015 season, Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson were both coming up on unrestricted free agent eligibility.
Gibson is a 22-year-old goaltender from Karkkila, Finland.
Sounds as though the Twitter community and hosts of Leafs lunch have a more positive outlook on Grabner than I do. He could provide some bottom-six depth for the Isles.
Looking at the deal, sending five prospects for one player seems like a lot given the Leafs current status as a rebuilding team.
Grabner, 27, registered eight goals and five assists for 13 points in just 34 games with the Islanders last season.
Also of interest to the Islanders should be Carter Verhaeghe, a former third-round pick, who posted 82 points in each of his last two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. Then, as a New York Ranger, St. Louis helped Rick Nash get his game back on track.
Gibson, 22, and a native of Karkkila, Finland, played in 45 games with the Marlies last season, posting a 24-17-3 record with a 2.42 goals-against average and a.921 save percentage.
As for the prospects the Leafs gave up, they were way down the depth chart. Another major plus is his speed, as it’s well known Grabner has a reputation for being one of the fastest skaters in the league. He’s the type of player that what he has you can’t teach.
Michael Grabner is headed to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was a move made not exclusively for the benefit of the club in the present, but mostly for its future.
“Otherwise”, Rielly said past year , “you check in and you get lonely”.
Right now, with Kapanen and Nylander on the books, is the Maple Leafs organization’s chance to develop the two of them together.