Quote:
Sportsnet.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jeremy Williams cleared waivers Monday afternoon and is headed back to the Marlies in the AHL. The Leafs have also placed Boyd Devereaux and Bates Battaglia on re-entry waivers.
Williams, who has split time with the Leafs and Marlies this season, was told before Tuesday's practice that he would be placed on waivers. The Regina, Sask. native was a healthy scratch the last two games against Montreal and Florida.
The young forward has five goals and two assists in 11 games with the Leafs this season.
Both Devereaux and Battaglia had seen action with the Leafs the last two seasons but failed to get a call-up to the big club this year. Devereaux has nine goals and seven assists in 45 games with the Marlies this season while Battaglia has recorded 12 goals and 10 assists in 30 games.
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OK so Burke risked losing the purest goalscorer we currently have in the organization and has recalled two playoff-experienced veterns.
IS there a deal in the works? Have Bates andBoyd been recalled for a showcase?
I mentioned on these boards before that there maybe some interest in some of the vets the Leafs had in the minors. Now I wonder if they are to be included as the final pieces to a deal to give a playoff team some vetern 3rd or 4th line depth heading into the post season. Both Battaglia and Devereaux are cheap and would make more sense for both a playoff team and the Leafs to include them in a deal than a Leafs draft pick.
So who would want some depth role players and also has interest in one of the Leafs other pieces?
Columbus pops to mind. A young team that could use some vetern presence in the locker room, and I have heard that they would like to put Antropov between Nash and Huselius. They are desperate to make the playoffs this year, and with all their youth they could afford to give up a 1st for one year.
If Philly is still hot after Kaberle, they could be interested in getting some cheap vetern replacements for any injuries during a long playoff run. They may feel that being able to have some vets to fill in for the inevitable injuries of post season would be better than bringing in some rookies from the farm.
If Wilson puts Battaglia on the line with Blake and Moore his value could sky rocket, if he performs the way everyone else has when placed with Moore this season. NOw sky rocket is a relative term since Bates would likely only get a 6th pick at this moment. With a few good weeks with the Leafs he might get a 4th from the right team.
While I don't like the idea of Burke risking Williams on waivers, if he can showcase Bates and Boyd and get something for them either individually or as part of a package I would be pleased. Knowing Bates it would not surpise me in the least if Wilson got him playing his best hockey that he has played in a few years. He also plays a style that I think Wilson would like, so he is likely to get more icetime than he would under normal circumstances.
SO is a deal simmering on the back burner, or just what is Burke up to?
__________________
LEAFS TANK NATION: Well we Can't Tank, we got no 1st round Draft Pick.
LEAFS FAN: WTF is a 1st round Draft Pick?
CLIFF FLETCHER: Draft Shmaft!
Sig. Courtesy of VICE.
You ask Ovechkin if he would trade his Art Ross and Richard Trophies, to trade places with Sidney Crosby last June.
What's Burke up to?
What's Burke up to?
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