Flames and Leafs can’t keep their eyes off each other

It’s typically in the couple weeks leading up to the trade deadline where we start getting wind of which pro scouts or other front office executives are traveling around and making appearances at games where “available” players might be. I’m not sure if I’ve ever noticed it starting this early in a season, but with some notable names being kicked around the trade rumour mill, like Evander Kane and Dougie Hamilton for example, it’s probably not surprising a lot of teams are making the rounds. And it isn’t just scouts.

For the Leafs and Flames, who seemed to have a bit of a connection last season without anything materializing, it looks as though there could have something brewing again. But what could be on the table?

According to a couple sources, the game between the Sabres and Flames earlier this week was well-attended by personnel from other clubs. I’m sure this happens plenty over the course of the season without much fanfare, but given Kane and Hamilton were playing, perhaps there was a solid contingent there to see each side. Toronto had a scout in attendance. They also had Kyle Dubas there, which is a lot more newsworthy.

Whether the Leafs are a team in on Hamilton is obviously unknown (though he would be an ideal fit), and with Lou running the show it’s unlikely we’ll see any information like that surface from even the most well-known insiders. But you don’t send someone as high-level as Dubas to see the game in-person for no reason, even if it is just a quick jump across the border to Buffalo. 

Something is up. So much so that the Flames’ general manager Brad Treliving himself took in last night’s game in Toronto.

Again, Hamilton seems like the natural center-piece here if anything were to go down, but that’s admittedly wishful thinking on our part. It could be something completely out of left field. And these sources above are guys on the beat who have access to the arena seating chart, but not much insight otherwise. If something is to go down between these two clubs, unless something leaks on the Calgary side, it’ll likely be the Leafs official PR account breaking the news.