Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire ” proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community……
The final weekend prior to the National Hockey League Trade Deadline will be an interesting study.
With a closed international border, a quarantine period in effect for Canada and heightened alarm at the unsettled global pandemic, certainly in Ontario, NHL trades between Canadian based teams and their American counterparts take on added consideration.
In terms of players on the block, the most intriguing is Buffalo forward Taylor Hall.
Among the most dominant players during his Ontario Hockey League days at Windsor, Hall has had a Hart Trophy season not that long ago but curiously has bounced from Edmonton, to Jersey to Arizona and finally Buffalo where he remains a lightning rod for criticism based on the high level of money being paid for the low level of production resulting.
Then there’s the Toronto Maple Leafs…….
Forever and ever, the Leafs are going to acquire a Top 6 forward, a shutdown defender or workhorse netminder.
Anybody that’s on the market, the Leafs are in on according to most reports.
And according to the Leafs historic track record, whoever they do get is generally 10 years past their prime.
To me, a return by Wayne Simmonds to his early form this season and possibly the impact of Alex Galchenyuk might be bonus upgrades up front the Leafs never anticipated.
There’s no Norris Trophy winner on the Leaf blueline and you’re never sure who’s going to be healthy and in goal, yet still Toronto sits first in the All Canadian Division heading to their game tomorrow night against Ottawa.
By Monday night when Toronto meets Montreal, we’ll see what the final roster contains
Have a great weekend.
For Pete’s Auto Body I’m Fred Wallace