James Van Riemsdyk traded to Leafs for Luke Schenn
Cam Charron
June 23 2012 03:23PM
The Luke Schenn re-vitalization project didn't get off the ground. Just as the assembled hockey media was ditching Pittsburgh for the weekend, Brian Burke took the time to make the biggest deal of the year so far, sending Schenn to Philadelphia in exchange for James Van Riemsdyk.
Courtesy Dreger:
Breaking News!!!!Toronto trades Luke Schenn to Flyers for James Van RiemsDyk.Done deal. #TSN
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 23, 2012
This is a very interesting deal on many fronts, and one that both adds and removes an unfortunate contract for both the Leafs and the Flyers. Schenn's cap hit is $3.6M over the next four seasons, while Van Riemsdyk's is $4.25M over the next six. So a pretty large amount of dollars going back and forth.
Canucks GM Mike Gillis shoots down any Luongo to Toronto speculation
Cam Charron
June 23 2012 01:30PM
Creepy
Over the weekend it was expected that maybe the time was right for the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs to make a deal involving a goaltender, specifically, Roberto Luongo.
However, the only trade involving the Leafs on draft day was that they dealt one of their goaltenders to a Canadian team. The negotiating rights to Jonas Gustavsson were sent to Winnipeg for a conditional seventh round draft pick, likely contingent on the Jets' signing Gustavsson.
Toronto Maple Leafs' late-round picks
Cam Charron
June 23 2012 10:32AM
With the 125th pick, the Leafs selected Dominic Toninato of Duluth-East Greyhounds in the Minnesota high school system. Toninato was ranked 149th in NHL Central Scouting, after a strong second half of the season that saw him score 61 points in 25 games.
Matt Finn selected 35th overall
Cam Charron
June 23 2012 08:51AM
There was some talk after the first round of the draft, where Guelph Storm defenceman Matt Finn was left standing, that he may fall to his hometown team Toronto for the No. 35 pick.
As it turns out, Finn, listed 6'0" 197 by the Storm, became the second defenceman chose by Burke, and the second chosen who grew up rooting for the Leafs. Finn, who stylizes himself as a two-way defenceman with good hockey sense and a high compete level, was left available for the Leafs with their early second round selection.
"I played all sorts of minutes with Guelph. I quarterbacked the powerplay and ran the penalty kill."
More on Rielly from Leafs' scouting director Dave Morrison
Cam Charron
June 22 2012 10:00PM
(Bruce Bennett/Getty)
PITTSBURGH — The Maple Leafs' director of amateur scouting Dave Morrison didn't necessarily confirm Brian Burke's assertion that number five overall pick Morgan Rielly was the highest player ranked on the Leafs' board, but admitted that "we had him pretty high."
"We went for a high-end skill talent. We wanted a guy that can be a core player," said Morrison. "He skates really fast and his hockey sense is very very good. He's a potential impact player. He's got a very high ceiling."
