Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis isn't ready to begin trading players but he is telling GMs around the NHL to start preparing offers, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday.
Toronto (22-25-4) is 1-8-1 in its past 10 games and has fallen 12 points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild-card spot into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
NHL TRADE DEADLINE: MARCH 2
TSN reported the two players on the Maple Leafs' roster most likely to be traded are defenseman Cody Franson and forward Daniel Winnik. Franson, 27, can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has six goals and 23 assists in 49 games.
The report didn't rule out the possibility of high-profile players including right wing Phil Kessel and defenseman Dion Phaneuf being traded prior to the NHL Trade Deadline, claiming there is a 20 percent chance they will be moved.
Kessel, 27, leads the Maple Leafs with 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 51 games; Phaneuf has 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 48 games.
Dreger said he believes there will be interest in Tyler Bozak, whose ability to be a No. 2 center for a playoff-bound team makes him an intriguing option. Bozak has 14 goals and 19 assists in 51 games.
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