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Hunt for a Killer? Could Gilmour really be headed back to Toronto?
Posted: Wednesday February 02, 2000 09:01 PM
Sources in Toronto maintain that the Maple Leafs have made discreet inquiries to Chicago about bringing center Doug Gilmour back to the Maple Leafs for the final year or two of his career. Gilmour, who had some of his best years in Toronto, would be a good fit for the Leafs, who are in need of a second-line center with some grit to line up behind No.1 Mats Sundin. Insiders report that the Blackhawks would want a quality defenseman in return. This deal makes sense on several levels, but it would be a complicated transaction. Mike Smith now calls the player personnel deals in Chicago, the same Mike Smith who was ousted in a power showdown with Leafs president and general manager Ken Dryden last summer. Bad blood is perhaps too strong a word, but relations between the two men are not good. Moreover, the powers that be in Toronto know that Smith knows their talent level from the inside out and therefore they would want to move slowly to be certain that it would not appear that Smith got the upper hand in the deal. Chicago, which does need defenseman, also wouldn't mind dumping Gilmour's $6 million salary.
Third wheel wants out of BuffaloOne player looking to move (but probably won't) is Buffalo goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who has asked the Sabres to move him in a very public way -- by going through the media. Roloson is unhappy with his playing time behind rookie Martin Biron and is likely to get even less playing time now that Dominik Hasek has returned. Insiders in Buffalo maintain that the club is looking to play Hasek like the $7 million player he is. When Hasek can't play, the Sabres probably will give the starts to Biron, who only leads the league with five shutouts. Even if Biron is sent to the minors for more regular playing time, the Sabres could still recall him for select games without putting him through waivers. And the team's AHL affiliate, The Rochester Amerks, is a mere hour away by car. Still, it's not likely Roloson will be moved. It's possible the Sabres will protect both Biron and Hasek in the upcoming expansion draft and therefore will still need an experienced goalie to expose to either Minnesota or Columbus. In that area only, Roloson is still the Sabres' main man.
Tsk, tsk, TkachukThose Keith Tkachuk rumors, largely bogus except for hints involving Carolina and Philadelphia, have cooled in recent weeks. Latest news out of Yotesville has the Coyotes looking for an experienced, stay-at-home defenseman. Nothing major or All-Star like, just a guy who's been around the playoff block a few times and would be able to steady some of the youngsters who always seem to feel the pressure of Phoenix/Winnipeg's many first-round playoff failures. Among the names being bandied about are Chicago tough guy Dave Manson, Ottawa veteran Grant Ledyard and New Jersey's Ken Daneyko.
Devils sale on holdWhile on the subject of New Jersey: The much-rumored sale of the Devils to New York Yankee and cablevision interests appears on hold until at least the end of the playoffs. Sources in that market maintain that owner Dr. John McMullen wants to take one more run at another Stanley Cup championship before relinquishing control of the club for a tidy little profit. McMullen's wonders won the crown in 1995 and have been touted as contenders ever since. However this season it appears as if they really do have a shot.
Kicking a dead horse in OttawaFor the record, The Ottawa Senators have stated flat out that there will be no trade of holdout center Alexei Yashin until he completes the year of service owed to the team according to the terms of his signed contract. Sens GM Marshall Johnston said teams shouldn't even bother to call because he's not talking any Yashin deal, not at the trade deadline, not at the end of the season, not until the matter is resolved. Take the man at his word. This is an issue both the team and the league want resolved and both feel the courts will decide in their favor.
Glimpse of the old HabsThe Montreal Canadiens are suddenly playing like an NHL team again and, as a result, rumors of attempts to upgrade for a late run at a playoff berth are on the rise. The latest has the Canadiens shopping defenseman Igor Ulanov, perhaps for a forward with some scoring ability. This is not likely to happen anytime soon because Ulanov has a way of not impressing front offices with his attitude. The rumor is built upon the fact the Canadiens have some players getting healthy again and will soon have a surplus of NHL defensemen. Jim Kelley covers the NHL -- and the Sabres -- for the Buffalo News. His notebook and Rumor Mill appear weekly on CNNSI.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.
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