Jim Rutherford and Dave Nonis may have a fair bit to talk about these days. A deal forged between the general managers of the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively, would come as no surprise in the next two to three weeks. One that could include a little-used, but experienced, member of the Maple Leafs' blue line.
Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer suggests the Hurricanes might be interested in trading for Mike Komisarek. With goalie Cam Ward out long-term, the club could benefit from a greater defensive presence in front of backup Dan Ellis; another physical player "in the Tim Gleason-Jay Harrison mold", as proposed by DeCock.
"... Those defensemen aren’t easy to find -- the Hurricanes had one in Bryan Allen, who cashed in as a free agent in the offseason -- but it may be worth taking a look at 6-foot-4, 235-pound Mike Komisarek, who is on the outs with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Komisarek’s career has been on a steady decline since he left the Montreal Canadiens to sign with the Leafs as a free agent in 2009, but a change of scenery and reunion with Kirk Muller might be just what he needs ... Komisarek has a $4.5 million cap hit, but he’s only due $3.5 million this season and next, and the Leafs may be willing to pick up some of that, a maneuver allowed under the NHL’s new labor agreement ..."
Nonis has confirmed (Toronto Sun) the Maple Leafs are "open" to trading Komisarek before the early-April deadline. No kidding; while the young and promising Jake Gardiner remains in the AHL, Komisarek has sat as a healthy scratch, taking up a roster spot, since Feb. 2. And the 31-year-old is reportedly willing to waive his no-movement clause for the chance to compete again.
