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Adding Kiprusoff (or Luongo) in other words, comes at the direct expense of upgrading elsewhere on the roster via trade or free agency. The Leafs would be able to replace Bozak or MacArthur with perhaps a better player, but they wouldn’t be able to add to what they have.

And given one of the team’s most pressing needs is a top four defenceman, which can get pricey, it would leave likely as many question marks as they had this season.

(There’s a reason most contending teams have more than one blueliner committed to a big contract.)

Add in the fact that Kiprusoff may not be that big of an upgrade over Scrivens and that you may lose that young goaltender, and there are more than enough warning signs against adding a big ticket in goal.

There are other ways to free the necessary salary room to make improvements, with trades for Mikhail Grabovski or John-Michael Liles two ways to accomplish that. But, in both cases, that would be selling low and would open other holes in the lineup.

If the goal here is to progress this team up the Eastern Conference in the next two or three years, GM Dave Nonis has to pick a window to win in and go with that. The summer is the perfect time to add another key piece to the blueline or up front to help them take the next step before Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf’s contracts come up for renewal.

The cap is likely to rise quickly starting in 2014-15 and beyond, but especially for next season, it makes little sense to commit so much to an area (goaltending) where the Leafs have had stability this season.

The better bet is to continue to go cheap in goal, hope that both youngsters continue to develop into No. 1 goalies and spend the available cap space elsewhere.

Because, for all of the Leafs success this season, the rest of the roster could certainly use the upgrades.

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013

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Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo admits huge contract prevented him being traded

By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

Roberto Luongo wasn’t traded, and neither was Miikka Kiprusoff.

So nothing materialized with the two goalies the Maple Leafs had pursued leading up to the NHL trade deadline Wednesday.

That deadline passed at 3 p.m. with 10 moves made.

The Leafs, though they did not acquire Luongo or Kiprusoff, will likely re-approach their goalie situation in the off-season.

Luongo, in a candid and emotional press conference shortly after the deadline, said he was relieved that all the trade speculation was ending, and admitted his monster contract was the sticking point in him being moved out of Vancouver.

“My contract sucks,” said Luongo, who is on the books for nine more seasons with a cap hit in excess of $5 million (U.S.)

“That’s what the problem is . . . unfortunately it is a big (factor) in trading for me. I’d scrap it right now if I could.”

The Leafs were confirmed to be one of the three or four teams seriously in the Luongo sweepstakes. Other teams were said to be Washington and Tampa, but Tampa swung a deal (sending Cory Conacher to Ottawa) that brought them a solid young goalie in Ben Bishop.

Luongo admitted he’s been frustrated and emotional leading up to trade deadline day, and ever since he arrived at a decision to ask out of Vancouver last spring when Cory Schneider upstaged him as the club’s top goalie.

“I’ve had a whole year to think about it,” Luongo said.

“It’s (contract) been good for some things, not good for others. That decision (to sign the deal) was made when we signed it and we will have to find a solution now. It’s a tough situation for everyone, we’re all trying to make the best of it and make something that is best for both sides. The time wasn’t now, so we’ll have to wait.”

Luongo was also asked if the difficulties in getting out of the contract were fully explored when he signed the deal, and he was asked if he had personally changed his stance since, several months ago, he said he could dictate a trade out of town on his own circumstances.

“That’s a good question and a tough one to answer,” Luongo said.

“I was never approached with a trade somewhere else . . . obviously, other teams were interested but nothing ever materialized to the point where I would have to waive off or not (no trade clause).

“If I’d taken a different approach as to the way I conducted myself things might be different. I’m not disappointed in the way I handled myself, I didn’t create negative energy around the team. I don’t regret the way I handled this.

“I’m 100 per cent dedicated to this team the rest of the year, I love this team and I love this city, and the goal is the Stanley Cup and I will give myself 100 per cent to that.”

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013

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NHL trade deadline: Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Ryan O’Byrne

By: Kevin McGran Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

The Maple Leafs acquired defenceman Ryan O’Byrne from the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday as the NHL trade deadline passed.

With Miikka Kiprusoff deciding to stay put in Calgary, Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis found himself shut out on the goaltending front.

But he had also been looking for a defenceman with playoff experience and found one in O’Byrne at the cost of a fourth-round pick in 2014.

O’Byrne is 28 and a former draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens. He is 6-5 and 234 pounds with 19 playoff games — all with Montreal — to his credit.

A shutdown defensive-type defenceman, he has played the last three seasons in Colorado.

The Leafs talked with Kiprusoff, who decided against moving his family to Toronto. He hinted he would retire as a Calgary Flame rather than extend his career as a backup in Toronto.

The Leafs were also talking to Vancouver about Roberto Luongo, who remained a Canuck.

But Nonis said he’s OK with the idea of standing pat with James Reimer and Ben Scrivens.

“We feel they’ve done a good job and are going to be with us for a long time,” Nonis told TSN.

The Leafs have had talks with Tyler Bozak’s agent on a possible contract extension for the pending unrestricted free agent.

“If the dollars made sense,” said Nonis. “We’re not shopping Bozak. He’s been a good player for us.”

Luongo had left Vancouver’s practise early — about 15 minutes before the deadline hit — just in case he was traded.

“It’s been an emotional ride,” Luongo said in Vancouver. “I love it here.”

Luongo was asked why he thought he remained in Vancouver after having been promised to be traded when Cory Schneider took over as the No. 1 goalie.

“My contract sucks. It’s a big factor in trading me,” he said.

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013

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Kiprusoff staying put in Calgary: report

By: Damien Cox Hockey, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

It’s like a blind date, with one of the partners hemming and hawwing over whether this is really a good idea.

That would be Miikka Kiprusoff, the Calgary goaltender, who knows the Maple Leafs would like him to twin with James Reimer and give the young Toronto squad some much-needed post-season experience.

Reports out of Calgary on Wednesday say the goalie is firm in his refusal to report to any team he is traded to and he will not come to Toronto as a result.

GM Dave Nonis pitched Kiprusoff on the idea of coming to Toronto on Tuesday, and then began discussions with agent Larry Kelly on the possible parameters of an extension.

That would have had to have been a gentleman’s agreement, as an actual extension to Kiprusoff’s deal can’t formally be done until the summer. It’s likely the Leafs would have been willing to pay Kiprusoff in the neighborhood of $5.5 million for one more season after his current contract expires after next year.

Nonis and Kelly are expected to talk again in the hours before today’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline.

With 10 notable players moving over the past seven days, all is currently quiet on the NHL trade front, with movement expected to kick in shortly after noon. Last year, the first trade on the final day occurred at 10:35 a.m., with Andrei Kostitsyn moving to Nashville from Montreal.

We all know how that turned out for the Predators. So maybe it’s better to wait until lunch.

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013

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NHL trade deadline: Columbus acquires Gaborik

By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired sniper Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers shortly after trading goalie Steve Mason to Philadelphia Wednesday.

Columbus sent three players — Derek Brassard, Derek Dorset, and John Moore — and a sixth-round pick to the Rangers for Gaborik. Dorset is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Columbus sent former rookie of the year goalie Steve Mason to Philadelphia.

“I’m super excited to get into Philadelphia, the fans expect a lot out of their goaltenders there, and it’s a lot like the junior markets I played in London,” Mason told Sportsnet.

Columbus has also picked up Blake Comeau from Calgary for a fifth-round pick.

The Minnesota Wild, who have been strongly mentioned in talks for Buffalo captain Jason Pominville, completed a trade for him just before the deadline. The Wild sent Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett to Buffalo — with an additional draft pick expected as well.

The move bolsters the Wild, who are battling with Vancouver for first place in their division.

The Canucks only deadline move remains the acquisition of Derek Roy; they did not manage move goalie Roberto Luongo.

The Leafs, who were actively in pursuit of goalies Roberto Luongo and Miikka Kiprusoff, made a last minute deal, acquiring added toughness in Ryan O’Byrne from Colorado for a fourth-round pick.

The trade deadline’s first deal came up just after noon Wednesday, with Boston trading winger Maxime Sauve to Chicago for centre Rob Flick.

Flick was the Blackhawks’ fourth-round pick in 2010 from the former Mississauga-St. Mike’s Majors, and he built a reputation as an enforcer-type player the past two years with Rockford in the AHL. He comes to a Boston team that was looking for added grit after trading Lane MacDermid to the Stars in the Jaromir Jagr trade.

Sauve was Boston’s second rounder in 2008. The native of Tours, France, played in the Quebec junior league for Quebec and Val d’Or. He’s played 158 games in the AHL the past two seasons, and a lone game in the NHL with Boston.

In a slightly bigger movie, San Jose picked up Scott Hannan from Nashville. The defenceman had previously played for the Sharks for seven seasons in his career.

Hannan was dealt for a conditional draft pick in 2013, believed to be a sixth or seventh rounder. That pattern — player for draft pick — was followed in the second move of the day when Florida sent Jerred Smithson to Edmonton for a fourth rounder.

Hannan returns to San Jose, which originally drafted him in the first round, 23rd overall, in 1997. The 34 year old forward comes to San Jose on the heels of a deal that saw the Sharks send veteran tough guy Ryan Clowe to the Rangers. Both Hannan and Clowe have yet to score this season, but Clowe does present some playoff pedigree for the Rangers.

Clowe has 45 points in 68 career playoff games in San Jose. He is expected to play on a line with Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. The Rangers are looking for some grit from Clowe and have obviously lost that element from their game when they lost Brandon Prust and Mike Rupp in the off season.

Smithson has been a third-fourth line winger in Florida, and is expected to provide some spark in Edmonton. Undrafted, Smithson, a graduate of the Calgary juniors, scored the game winning goal for the Predators over the Ducks in game five of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.

With basically four low-on-the-radar players being moved up until 90 minutes to deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins spiced things up a bit by acquiring Jussi Jokinen from Carolina for a conditional draft pick.

Jokinen adds more veteran presence to the Penguins in their drive to return the Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh. Jokinen is a noted shootout specialist, and is over 50 per cent career on the faceoff. The Penguins are adding as much depth as possible at the deadline, and with Sidney Crosby out with a broken jaw.

Crosby was released from hospital Tuesday and despite his broken jaw and dental surgery, he’s expected to return to the lineup by the end of the month when the playoffs are set to open.

This deal is important for our financial flexibility moving forward,” Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford posted on his twitter account.

The Hurricanes recently signed Alex Semin to a seven year, $35 million deal, and have six Ufa-eligible players after next season when the cap drops from $70 million to $64.3 million. The club also has seven core players signed through 2015-16.

Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman — facing a crossroads with his aging hockey team — made a solid move in acquiring young goalie Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators.

Tampa is now looking at Bishop to realize his potential with the Lightning, and likely replace Mathieu Garon as the club’s top goalie. Bishop was third on the depth chart in Ottawa, behind Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Bishop has held high expectations in the NHL ever since he emerged as one of the top goalies in the AHL last season.

Ottawa gets Cory Conacher and a fourth rounder in return for Bishop. Conacher, a teammate of Leafs defenceman Mike Kostka with the AHL championship-winning Norfolk Admirals last season, is a solid second- to third-line forward who grew up and starred in the Burlington minor hockey league system. His is a distant relative of Hockey Hall of Famers Charlie, Roy, and Lionel Conacher.

Conacher, with nine goals and 15 assists in 35 games in Tampa, now becomes the highest scorer with the Senators.

In a late deal, Phoenix traded Raffi Torres to San Jose for third-round pick.

According to TSN, the Leafs are in the early stages of discussions on a potential contract extension for first-line forward Tyler Bozak.

Bozak and the Leafs reported to practice Wednesday morning in a business as usual fashion — there seems to be a mood of calm over the team, especially goalies James Reimer and Ben Scrivens, who have been the centre of trade talks surrounding the Leafs the past month.

But Kiprusoff ended all speculation just before noon Wednesday when he declared he would decline all trades. Kirpusoff’s wishes are now to remain in Calgary and he will likely retire at the end of this season.

The Leafs, while saying they made and fielded dozens of calls, were all but standing pat, aside from the deal with Colorado, after falling short in their bid for Kiprusoff.

“From where we stand right now, I don’t see us doing anything …” Leafs GM Dave Nonis said with an hour to go before the deadline.

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013

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NHL trade deadline: Look at the last five seasons

By: Kevin McGran Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

If you think the players are nervous at trade deadline day, just think about how on edge the folks in the front office are.

“For me it’s about making sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s,” said Leafs assistant GM Claude Loiselle. “It’s a time a year that stresses me out a little bit. You’re aware. It could be a trade with 15 minutes left. You’ve got to go over your roster, you’ve got to go over your cap, you’ve got to go over your projections.”

Their moves — or lack thereof — will be picked apart by analysts and fans alike. Some GMs will look aggressive. Some stand pat. Some, in retrospect, look smart. Others, not so much.

Here’s a look at select moves made on the NHL’s trade deadline day over the last five years:

2011/12: L.A. Kings won the Stanley Cup

Deadline: Feb. 27

What the cup winner did: The Kings were silent on trade deadline day, having made their biggest moves prior — hiring coach Darryl Sutter and acquiring centre Jeff Carter (Feb. 23) from Columbus.

Buyer beware: The Nashville Predators acquire Andrei Kostitsyn and a 2013 fifth-round draft pick from the Montreal Canadiens for 2013 second-round draft pick. One could argue that Kostitsyn did more damage than good to the Predators’ Stanley Cup hopes, staying out late during the playoffs and getting benched by the team. He was anything but a Barry Trotz kind of player, and his presence might have been bad for team chemistry. It remains to be seen what Montreal does with Nashville’s two picks, both up this summer, but subtracting Kostitsyn seems like a good addition for Montreal.

Seller’s remorse: The Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Mark Fraser from the Anaheim Ducks for Dale Mitchell. Mitchell was never highly regarded by the Leafs and Anaheim thought so much of their new acquisition, he played the year in Europe this year. Anaheim wanted Fraser’s salary off the books. Fraser has worked wonderfully on the Leaf blue line, a true Randy Carlyle-type stay-at-home and fight defenceman.

Meh: The Vancouver Canucks acquire Zach Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani from the Buffalo Sabres for Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer. The Canucks didn’t win the Cup. Kassian was just dispatched to the minors. Gragnani long gone. The Sabres got a potential No. 1 centre in Hodgson. Down the road, the Sabres will be the happier team.

2010/11: Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup

Deadline: Feb. 28

What the cup winner did: The Bruins made only a small trade on deadline day — getting goaltender Anton Khudobin from the Minnesota Wild for defenceman Jeff Penner and the rights to forward Mikko Lehtonen. The Bruins significant moves were made earlier, getting Chris Kelly (Feb. 15) from Ottawa and Rich Peverley (Feb. 18) from Atlanta to form a tremendous shutdown third line.

Even Steven: The Los Angeles Kings acquire forward Dustin Penner from the Edmonton Oilers for defenceman Colten Teubert, a 2011 first-round draft pick (Oscar Klefbom) and a conditional 2012 third-round draft pick. Both teams were happy with the package. Penner was integral to Kings Cup win a year later.

Seller’s remorse: The Washington Capitals acquire defenceman Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers for forward Jake Hauswirth and a 2011 third-round draft pick. Wideman blossomed in Washington. Can’t imagine what Florida was thinking, a selling team getting an ECHL player in return.

Buyer beware: The Calgary Flames acquire forward Fredrik Modin from the Atlanta Thrashers for a 2011 seventh-round draft pick. Even though it was a late pick, this is just the kind of trade the Flames should not have been doing during their burnout era. Deluding yourself that you’re a playoff contender is dangerous.

2009/10: Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup

Deadline: March 3, 2010.

What the cup winner did: The Hawks were quiet on the day of the deadline and were mostly quiet all year in terms of trades. The most significant moves came in February, adding depth in Michael Frolik and Chris Campoli.

Seller’s remorse: The Boston Bruins acquire defencemen Dennis Seidenberg and Matthew Bartkowski from the Florida Panthers for forwards Craig Weller and Byron Bitz and a 2010 second-round draft pick. There’s a reason the Panthers are usually at or near the bottom of the standings, and it’s a history of trades like this one. Seidenberg is a B’s top-four D-man. Bartkowski was almost traded for Jarome Iginla. Weller is in Germany.

Buyer beware: The Phoenix Coyotes acquire forward Wojtek Wolski from the Colorado Avalanche for forwards Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter. It looked like a clean slate would be just the thing for Wolski and Mueller. Both played their way off their new teams and further down the depth charts on others.

Meh: The Atlanta Thrashers acquire forward Clarke MacArthur from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2010 third-round draft pick and a 2010 fourth-round draft pick. This trade worked out great — for the Maple Leafs.

2008/09: The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

Deadline: March 4.

What the cup winners did: The Penguins pulled off a series of minor trades — acquiring Andy Wozniewski from St. Louis and adding veteran Bill Guerin from the Islanders.

Buyer beware: Historic underachiever Patrick O’Sullivan moved from the Kings to Carolina (for Justin Williams) then shipped to Edmonton (for Erik Cole and late pick.) Williams and Cole remain solid producers. The Carolina Hurricanes acquire Patrick O’Sullivan and a 2009 second-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Kings for Justin Williams. O’Sullivan mostly toiled around the minors.

Player’s remorse: The Buffalo Sabres acquire Dominic Moore from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2009 second-round draft pick. Moore turned down a contract extension from the Leafs, where he had a chance to be a No. 1 centre. He ended up signing for less elsewhere. The Leafs used that pick to draft Jesse Blacker.

2007/08: Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.

Deadline: Feb. 26

What the cup winners did: The Red Wings acquire defenceman Brad Stuart from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2008 second-round draft pick and a 2009 fourth-round draft pick.

Not what you think: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forwards Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from the Atlanta Thrashers for forwards Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a 2008 first-round draft pick (Daultan Leveille). A signal that the Penguins meant business, this trade worked out — only later and in an odd way. The Pens didn’t win the Cup that year. Hossa jumped ship, to Detroit, then to Chicago (where he finally got his cup). The lasting effect of this trade was Dupuis, a stalwart in Pittsburgh. He was thought to have been the throw-in.

Even Steven: The Dallas Stars acquire forward Brad Richards and goaltender Johan Holmqvist from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forwards Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern, goaltender Mike Smith, and a 2009 fourth-round draft pick. In retrospect, this trade didn’t work out for either team.

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013

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Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs: Thursday NHL game preview

By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

AIR CANADA CENTRE

FACEOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet RADIO: TSN Radio 1050

WEB: Follow the Star’s live updates during Thursday’s game at TheStar.com/sports

LEAFS INJURIES

Leo Komarov (upper body)

Clarke MacArthur (lower body)

FLYERS INJURIES

Maxime Talbot (broken leg)

Braydon Coburn (lower body)

Andrej Meszaros (knee)

Nicklas Grossman (lower body)

Danny Briere (concussion)

NOTES

Flyers played in Montreal on Wednesday night and were gunning for their first three-game win streak of the season. They are six points out of the final playoff spot in the East, so every game is a must-win situation for them. . . . This game also represents a huge opportunity for the Leafs: they are 11 points ahead of the Flyers, and a win should all but ensure that Philly has no chance of catching Toronto in the standings.

Saturday at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Toronto Star LOADED: 04.04.2013

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NHL trade deadline: Connolly a healthy scratch with Marlies

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter Published on Wed Apr 03 2013

Let the speculation begin.

With a 3 p.m. trade deadline looming, Tim Connolly was to be a healthy scratch for the AHL Marlies for their day game Wednesday.

“My decision,” said Marlies coach Dallas Eakins.