Leafs trade John Mitchell to New York Rangers

Toronto has dealt current Marlies forward John Mitchell to the New York Rangers, believed to be a late pick in return.

Update: 7th Rounder as per Darren Dreger/TSN

NHL IN PLAY LIST

Here is a list of players in play at the moment

Dustin Penner EDM
Ales Hemsky EDM
JP Dumont NSH
Brad Richards DAL
J-M Liles COL
Chris Neal OTT
Filip Kuba OTT
Chris Campoli OTT
Jason Arnott NJ
Clake MacArthur TOR (many teams want MacArthur, my belief he stays)
Bryan Allen FLA (hearing could be dealt to Carolina for Samsonov)

Leafs looking for #1 Centre - Dangling Kadri

Toronto has made it known that Nazem Kadri is available for a true #1 centre, Burke obviously is pushing the envelope as it doesn't look like Richards will be available on July 1st.

Toronto has Kadri, and (2) 1st Rounders in play in order to obtain the centre the covet, looking at Weiss, Stastny 

Leafs zeroing in on Liles + more

Toronto is making a hard push for John-Michael Liles this morning, Colorado wants one of the Toronto 1st Rounders, Colombus is also looking at Liles.

LA is pursuing Ales Hemsky, looking to add a scorer for their playoff push

Ottawa is expected to deal Filip Kuba and Chris Campoli today, Washington is very interested in Campoli

Clarke MacArthur expected to stay with Leafs, which is a good plan for both

Update coming soon.

Tomas Kaberle traded to Boston Bruins for Joe Colborne + (BOS) 1st Round Pick for 2011

Beantown Bound

Tomas Kaberle has been dealt to the Boston Bruins for Joe Colborne & Boston's 1st Round Pick in the 2011 Draft + a conditional draft pick, Colborne was ranked #2 on the Bruins prospect chart only behind Tyler Seguin.

Colborne is a big centre/forward (6'6 206lbs) who has decent speed and good hands, a pass first centre.

Talent Analysis courtesy of HockeysFuture.com

Leafs new top prospect, ahead of Kadri

Has the size that every team dreams of but is still learning how to use it to his full advantage. The growth spurt is still relatively recent and so Colborne is still making the adjustment mentally that he can do much more than he believes he can from a physical perspective.

Decent skater but best asset apart from his size is his on ice vision and playmaking skills. He can finish and does possess an above average shot but he is a self-admitted pass-first player. Loves to control the puck on along the boards on the power play and find his teammates for gift goals.

Played the wing in Camrose but took most of the faceoffs and then would shift to the wing after the play had started. Some scouts have wondered if he might make a better center with his size and passing skills.

The knock on Colborne is his lack of physical grit; he's not a banger and he doesn't really drive to the net very often both of which he could do easily if he tried.

Comes from a wealthy family which some consider a flaw for some reason believing his committment isn't as deep as with other players. Hockey's Future does not believe this to be an issue. With excellent grades in school, Colborne has shown the dedication for personal improvement off the ice and his coach's do not question his determination on it.

Burke does very well here, another 1st, + a top notch prospect, this is the centre the Leafs need for Phil Kessel, Colborne has drawn comparisons to a young Joe Thorton, but obviously has a ways to go to get to that status.

Leafs Acquire Aaron Voros from Anaheim

Toronto has traded a conditional 7th Rounder to Anaheim for Aaron Voros

Voros will report to the Toronto Marlies some time today.

more details as I get them.

Beauchemin dealt to Ducks, Lupul to Toronto

Back to Anaheim

as I mentioned earlier in my morning blog, Brian Burke was fielding many calls on Francois Beauchemin, and Anaheim upped the ante with what looks like a pretty good return (more than I expected the Leafs to get) for Beauchemin.

Toronto will receive 27 year old forward Joffrey Lupul, Defenseman Prospect Jake Gardiner and a conditional 4th round pick in the 2013 entry draft.


Lupul gives Toronto a much needed boost at forward, a former #7th overall pick, Lupul has 5 goals and 8 assists this year w/Anaheim and will look for a boost heading to Toronto who could use it.

The 20 year old Jake Gardiner was the Ducks top defensive prospect and he currently has 30 points in 30 games for the University of Wisconsin (7 goals, 23 assists)

a new Leaf

Anaheim will be counting on Beauchemin to return to his old form to stabilize their blueline.

I think Brian Burke does very well here, I expected a 3rd rounder + possibly mid level prospect and Mr. Burke pulled out a scoring forward, top defensive prospect and conditional 4th rounder.

Very well done, that is the first domino to fall in the NHL deadline festivities, who's NEXT?

Wednesday NHL Rumors

Happy Hump Day everyone, here are some rumors floating around the NHL at the moment

Edmonton has been receiving a few offers for Ales Hemsky, nothing of note so far though, have heard the offers are not "earth shattering" so I expect the Oilers to hold out on a decent return.

Dustin Penner will likely be wearing a different jersey within the next 3 weeks, have been told Montreal, Toronto, Boston and Los Angeles are looking at him.

Speaking of Toronto, Brian Burke has been fielding several calls from teams about Beauchemin, and the list is growing of possible suitors, which will help Toronto in negotiating leverage, Burke has so far been trying to leverage a package deal out of teams in an effort to make a huge impact in one deal.

Word out of Montreal is that Hal Gill and a few others are not pleased with P.K. Subbans actions, most recently with Gill calling Subban "an a**hole" in front of reporters for Subban leaving his equipment scattered all over the dressing for the staff to pick up, P.K. has not made a very good impression on veterans in the league in his first year.

Crosby & Malkin both out due to injury

Sidney Crosby is still out with concussion symptoms, and the Penguins have to be VERY worried about their future star players, Malkin has both a torn MCL & ACL and requires surgery, and Sidney has recently been put on LTIR, Crosby was putting together one of those special seasons that only come around every decade and it's a shame it was cut down by another head hit.

More later on, ZIP IT IN AND ZIP IT OUT

Thursday Evening Rumor Report

Toronto has loaned Marlies forward Jerry D'amigo to the Kitchener Rangers after he struggled somewhat playing in the AHL, a move that likely should have been done much earlier to help with his development.

The Leafs have been busy on the phones today hashing out possible deals, right now I have gotten word they are speaking with St. Louis, no player names yet.

The Nabokov scenario seems to have quieted down for the time being, our good friends @ sportsteepee@blogspot.com (a sports parody blog) have made a parody song to Drake's - Forever making light of the Nabokov situation, it's pretty funny - check it out here

Chicago has been calling Brian Burke about Kris Versteeg, who has made it known a deal back to the Windy City would be welcomed.

More later on!

Leafs close to deal / taking on salary

Burke close to acquiring 1st Rounder

I have heard Toronto is close to acquiring a "bad contract" from a western conference team, and in exchange will also obtain 2 draft picks, one of them a 1st rounder.

The contract Toronto would be receiving has 2 years left on it, I haven't got a name yet however, still digging.

Will report back more shortly.