3. Nick Kypreos shook the masses last weekend, wondering on Headlines if Alex Pietrangelo would be a fit for Toronto. With a few more days to work off it, my guess is this: St. Louis put him in William Nylander discussions, but the Maple Leafs decided to keep the winger. I see two reasons. First, Nylander is six years younger. Second, they might not be able to fit Pietrangelo’s extension (he’s eligible in July) and would prefer someone with term in that particular trade. It doesn’t mean they can’t/won’t re-consider him in the future.
They are doing due diligence on defencemen. They’re not crazy about term, but may consider some length if the cap hit is small enough. The defenceman has trade protection, but if Novice-age teammate John Tavares can handle Toronto, no reason Pietrangelo can’t.
4. The biggest takeaway from all of this: The fact Pietrangelo’s name got out there indicates the Blues are willing to do it.
5. A couple more notes on the Maple Leafs, since those of you outside the Ontario capital can’t get enough. Toughness returned to the forefront after last Saturday’s loss in Boston, but you have to look at GM Kyle Dubas’s history. It’s been a yearly critique of his teams — OHL Sault Ste. Marie, AHL Toronto — and he ignores it. He’s undoubtedly focused more on Tampa Bay, the only team ahead of the Maple Leafs in the standings. The Lightning are built similarly to Toronto, and that makeup is in his own DNA.
