The Toronto Maple Leafs have already made three trades in 2014 and more players could be on the move in the near future.
Claude Loiselle, the team’s assistant general manager, told reporters the Leafs will likely make additional moves before the two-week Olympic break, which begins Feb. 9 and goes until Feb. 25.
On Friday, the Leafs sent defenceman Mark Fraser to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forwards Cameron Abney and Teemu Hartikainen. The move comes nine days after the club acquired Brandon Kozun in a minor deal with the Los Angeles Kings for Andrew Crescenzi. Also, on Jan. 1 the team sent blueliner John-Michael Liles and the rights to Dennis Robertson to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenceman Tim Gleason.
Dave Bolland (ankle), David Clarkson (elbow), Frazer McLaren (shoulder) and Trevor Smith (hand) are currently listed on the team’s injured reserve but are all nearing a return. According to head coach Randy Carlyle, Bolland will accompany the team on its two-game road trip to Florida next week and has a “50/50” chance of returning to game action prior to the Olympic break.
By trading Fraser, the Leafs went from having approximately $370,000 in cap space to $1.65 million, according to CapGeek.
Still, with a handful of players expected to return to the lineup, the team will need to clear some roster space.
Loiselle didn’t specifically mention the Leafs were going to do so via the trade route, so putting players on waivers or demoting them to the minors is also a possibility.
The NHL trade deadline this season falls on March 5.
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