Thursday, November 6, 2008

All Quiet On The Trade Front But Things Are Stirring

Cliff Fletcher appeared on Hockeycentral @ Noon on Wednesday and told fans that he's working the phones and not to expect the team to be making any major moves if they are making a playoff push at trade deadline.

"We are not about to go and get any short-term help to get us into the playoffs," the Leafs general manager said.

Fletcher said his phones aren't ringing off the hook at the moment but he has made a few calls to other general managers.

"Quite frankly it's pretty quiet out there." Fletcher said. "We've talked to number of teams who may be looking for a little help on the blueline but there seems to be a reluctance out there on the part of teams to do anything right now."

Fletcher suggested a couple of reasons why the trade winds remain calm at the moment.

"It may be because teams are trying to evaluate their players or it may be the state of the economy has teams in a holding pattern right now," Fletcher suggested.

Fletcher seems to be happy with the play of his players a dozen games into the 2008-09 season.

"There are some positives and some obvious shortcomings with the team," he said on the radio show. "We have to be pleased with some of the new players, particularly (Mikhail) Grabovski, (Niklas) Hagman and naturally Luke Schenn."

Although the Boys in Blue have had a solid start to the season Fletcher knows that it's too early to say exactly where the Leafs stand.

"Once we play another dozen games or so we might have a better feel for where we might be going."

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