It's been a long season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who entered the season with realistic playoff hopes looming for the first time in years. After a 4-0-0 start, it looked like the Leafs actually did have a chance to make the playoffs after all.
However, everything has gone completely wrong.
The Maple Leafs have gone 8-15-4 since their undefeated start, including a streak of eight straight losses. Their first-half struggles have driven them out of the playoff picture and even put head coach Ron Wilson's job into question by many.
Although firing Wilson might not seem like the right thing to do, a potential replacement always has to be looked for. In the Maple Leafs' case, that potential replacement could come from inside the organization.
Toronto Marlies head coach Dallas Eakins is a former assistant coach with the Maple Leafs and might be their best option when it comes to a new head coach. Eakins' previous NHL experience means he knows not only what it's like to coach in the world's best league, but one of the league's most passionate, impatient markets.
If you're looking for previous success of an AHL coach being hired by their NHL clubs, look no further than Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma.
Bylsma was coaching the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before the Penguins hired him. Just four months after he was hired, he led the Penguins to game seven of the Stanley Cup finals. A year after that, Bylsma coached the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup championship in 15 years.
It just so happened that Bylsma was an assistant coach with the New York Islanders during the 2005-2006 season.
Of course, a change still has yet to be made, but if one is, Eakins could be Toronto's best option.
Now, for the rumors...
Atlanta's Bergfors on the trade block?
ESPN's Peirre LeBrun went on Hockey Night In Canada's second intermission show and said that Atlanta Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley could be looking to make a move involving Niclas Bergfors.
Bergfors, 23, has been having a mediocre season. In 27 games, the Sodertalje, Sweden native has seven goals and 11 assists to go along with a plus-1 rating. In 117-career NHL regular season games, Bergfors has 29 goals and 34 assists.
He was acquired from New Jersey in the same trade that saw long-time Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk head to the Devils.
Ducks still looking to trade?
According to TheFourthPeriod.com (via the Orange County Register), the Anaheim Ducks are still looking to trade a defenceman.
The report suggests Luca Sbisa, Lubomir Visnovsky, Cam Fowler and Toni Lydman are all safe, but general manager Bob Murray may be willing to trade away veterans Andy Sutton, Paul Mara, Andreas Lilja and Sheldon Brookbank.
Murray wants to have a surplus of defenceman on the Ducks' roster but with eight of them, a move appears to be on the horizon. However, any trade that they do make will have to be made after December 27th, as the NHL's trade freeze is now in effect.
According to multiple reports, Murray has been looking to move a defenceman or two all season. The team currently has just under $4 million in cap space to work with, allowing Murray flexability on the trade market.
Teams calling about Nabokov
ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Saturday that former San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov is drawing interest from more than one NHL team.
LeBrun says he's told that "several NHL teams have called about him," but that he could only confirm the Tampa Bay Lightning. He doubts that the Lightning will end up signing him, however, as they don't have very much money to spend and Nabokov would have to clear waivers once signed.
Senators interested in Bieksa
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported on Saturday that the Ottawa Senators are interested in Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa, although, despite recent reports, Garrioch says Bieksa isn't on the trade block quite yet.
The Senators currently have about $1.5 million in cap space, but Bieksa comes with a cap hit of just over $3.5 million, meaning the Senators would likely have to move someone with a rather expensive contract.
Bieksa has two goals, five assists and a plus-3 rating in 29 games this season.
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lukas@gacksports.com
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