The NHL Trade Deadline heats up for the Maple Leafs as they set to rest Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for roster management purposes.
NEWARK, N.J — The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to rest forwards Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for roster management purposes.
TSN’s Chris Johnston was first to report that McMann and Laughton would be scratched. TSN’s Darren Dreger also added that defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson before the club made the news official.
It goes to show you how quickly things can change with the trade deadline approaching. Earlier in the day, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube seemed to indicate that nobody would be resting for roster management purposes. However, this latest development suggests things are advancing to the point with trade talk surrounding their players at the March 6 trade deadline approaches.
Although he hasn’t been called up, The Hockey News spotted Jacob Quillan in Newark with his gear in the event the Leafs are short on forwards. In the meantime, it’s likely that Calle Jarnkrok and Nick Robertson will jump into the lineup instead. Troy Stecher, who was scratched last game on defense, will slot in for Ekman-Larsson.
The 29-year-old McMann is in the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $1.35 million. He has 19 goals and 13 assists in 60 games. While there was talk about a potential contract extension, it doesn’t appears as they that is imminent. McMann also told The Hockey News earlier this week that he’d be open to returning to Toronto on the open market if he is moved.
Laughton, 31, has eight goals and four assists in 43 games and is in the final year of a five year contract worth $3 million per season. His salary cap hit is just $1.5 million in Toronto since half of the hit was retained by the Philadelphia Flyers in the deadline trade made last year.