Who Will The Leafs Move?

Today, the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes completed what Bob McKenzie called "nothing less than a blockbuster trade".

The trade sent potential top 3 defenseman Joe Corvo and left winger Patrick Eaves from Ottawa to Carolina for defenseman Mike Commodore and veteran left winger Cory Stillman, who has two Stanley Cup rings in the last 3 years, and 46 points so far this year.

This move paves the road for the other 28 teams in the league to make a move of their own at the deadline and may force other teams into make moves, with the knowledge that their rivals have just improved. The Toronto Maple Leafs may have lucked out.

The Leafs have wowed their fans with wins over arguably the top three teams in the league - Ottawa, Montreal, and Detroit - but they didn't forget to squeeze in an 8-0 loss to Florida, one of the leagues worst. This recent run doesn't put Cliff Fletcher in a different position, and intelligent Leafs fans won't change their minds on this season. Fletch was brought here to get the deal done, and set up this team for the new GM to take over.

But who will the Leafs end up moving? With all the ifs and buts over Sundin being traded, will Fletcher find a good deal for both sides? Will the Leafs unload the huge contracts of McCabe and Kubina? Will typical Leafs fan favourite Darcy Tucker be gone, even with his no-trade clause? Will we finally get rid of that incompetent Andy Raysoft? Only time will tell.

Cliff Fletcher is here to be a short term fixer and a long term builder. Recently I have heard rumours that if he is a big seller at the deadline - which most figure he will be - he will not settle for just prospects and draft picks. Apparently Fletch could bring in the likes of Marian Hossa or Martin St. Louis if the right deal is put on the table (Antropov, Tucker, Kubina, Raycroft kind of package). A short term fixer and a long term builder. But that is just a rumour, so keep your pants on.

So maybe it is just me, but Trade Deadline '08 is feeling a little like Christmas... without religion being forced down my throat.