Leafs scouts showed up in New York, and a trade storyline is building
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs show up to the Battle of New York as trade rumors swirl around Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin.
As a trade for Artemi Panarin appears to be moving rapidly towards completion, multiple teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, are getting a look at the Rangers roster.
The Leafs were one of among 16 scouts seated in attendance for Wednesday's game between the two New York teams, the Rangers and Islanders, according to Islanders reporter Stefen Rosner.
Panarin wasn't playing for the Rangers in this game, however. The 34-year-old has been held out, and is expected to be so up until the Olympics as the Rangers seek a trade partner.
Panarin has likely played his last game for the New York Rangers as the team seeks a trade.
The Rangers sit last in the Metropolitan Division with a 22-26-6 record, surprisingly near the NHL's basement with injuries to key players such as Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, and now likely out the door being Panarin.
Do the Toronto Maple Leafs have a shot at Artemi Panarin?
The Toronto Maple Leafs prospects of acquiring Artemi Panarin are slim, even if he's the type of player the Leafs could use in their lineup.
The largest barrier seperating the Leafs from a player such as Panarin, one of the NHL's top point producers, is his $11.6M contract, an amount that even with retention presents multiple challenges salary wise for Toronto.
50% retention would still mean having to move out 1-2 current salaries from the Leafs current active roster, including at least one of their higher-priced contracts that would be movable.
As well, retention would likely drive up the likely already high value of Panarin's return to the New York Rangers, challenging for a Toronto Maple Leafs team both lacking in cap space and valuable prospect and draft pick futures.
What could be possible is the Leafs are looking at other options beyond Panarin, a strong likelihood given Panarin was not playing against the Islanders.
One name on the Rangers side who is linked in trade rumors as well is Braden Schneider.
The 24-year-old right-handed defenseman is on the final year of a two-year contract at $2.2M annually. Schneider, an RFA, is a defensive defenseman with good size at 6'4 and 214lbs.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 29|1342 ANSWERS Leafs scouts showed up in New York, and a trade storyline is building Do you see the Leafs making a trade before the Olympics? | ||
| Yes | 509 | 37.9 % |
| No | 833 | 62.1 % |
| List of polls | ||