Is Alex Ovechkin done?

That’s where the conversation started on Thursday’s edition of Leafs Morning Take. With David Pagnotta filling in for Jay Rosehill once again, there was no shortage of trade and rumour talk.

We kicked things off by discussing Washington’s acquisition of Alex Tuch and whether it has any impact on Ovechkin’s future. For now, Pagnotta doesn’t think it does. He noted that Ovechkin is currently vacationing in Turkey, and it sounds like we’ll have a much better idea of what’s next after July 1.

Regardless, there’s no denying the Capitals have significantly improved their roster. After landing Jordan Kyrou and now Alex Tuch, they’ve put themselves in a much stronger position heading into next season.

From there, the conversation shifted back to the Maple Leafs and the rapidly thinning free-agent market. Toronto has plenty of cap space to work with, but the big question is whether there will be enough quality players left to spend it on.

On the Leafs front, we dug into the Matthew Knies trade rumours, and they just won’t go away. At this point, it certainly feels like there’s legitimate smoke, although we’ll see where things ultimately lead. What we do know is the asking price is sky-high—and rightfully so. Buffalo, Montreal, San Jose, and several other teams are believed to have interest in the 23-year-old winger. Pagnotta shared the latest on the situation, including what the Maple Leafs could potentially be looking for in a Knies deal.

Meantime, the Sergei Bobrovsky buzz isn’t going away, either. According to Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs could be willing to go as long as four years on a deal for the 37-year-old netminder. Naturally, we debated the fit and what adding Bobrovsky would mean for Toronto’s outlook moving forward. We also dove into my reporting on Troy Stecher, which suggests the veteran defenceman is trending toward testing the open market on July 1. At this point, a return to the Maple Leafs appears unlikely.

Fresh off helping the Toronto Marlies capture the Calder Cup, Michael Pezzetta joined the show to reflect on an unforgettable championship run. The Toronto native discussed what it meant to win a title in his hometown, why he believes the Calder Cup is the next best thing to the Stanley Cup, and the incredible atmosphere at Coca-Cola Coliseum throughout the playoffs. Pezzetta also praised head coach John Gruden, veteran leader Mark Giordano, and standout netminder Artur Akhtyamov, while sharing his thoughts on the development of Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. He wrapped up the conversation by offering some advice to fellow Toronto native Darren Raddysh as he prepares to begin his Maple Leafs journey.

And so, draft day is nearly here. Rosie and I will be together in our Toronto studio for the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM ET as we sift through the latest news and notes around the Maple Leafs.

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