SUNRISE, FLA. - Brendan Shanahan departed Florida with only one of his two summer projects completed.
The draft was a success in the minds of the Maple Leafs and many NHL observers, nine picks in which talent and tenacity were valued ahead of size.
But the only trade Shanahan and young lieutenant Kyle Dubas were able to make involved low-level players who needed a change of scenery, forward Brad Ross to Edmonton for defenceman Martin Marincin.
As for Phil Kessel, he’s still a Leaf and may be in limbo until training camp when Mike Babcock would no doubt take a different approach to schooling him than his previous three coaches.