Report: Maple Leafs D Mike Komisarek Wants Out, Leafs Nation Couldn't Be Happier

According to Andy Strickland of TrueHockey.com, much maligned Toronto Maple Leafs defender Mike Komisarek has given a list of 12 teams to GM Dave Nonis that he would like to be traded to:

"

Mike Komisarek gave #Leafs a list of 12 teams he'd accept a trade to but I'm told he'd pretty much accept a trade anywhere. Wants to play

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) March 2, 2013"

Komisarek has been out since having a mild episode of rage earlier in the season—he broke a stick and the shrapnel from the stick got lodged in his eye.

When the Leafs initially brought the hard-hitting defender in on a free-agent, four-year contract, Komisarek was thought to be one of the most hated players to play against in the NHL. However, his time with the Leafs has proven those comments completely false.

With youngsters Mike Kostka, Mark Fraser and Korbinian Holzer all getting playing time over him, this news of him asking out of town was only a matter of time.

A trade out of town might be asking too much out of Nonis; however, don't be surprised if a compliance buyout is used to rid the Leafs of Komisarek. With Komisarek still owed over $4.5 million next year, teams won't be giving up much, if anything at all, to land him.

With defenseman Jake Gardiner close to returning—along with Matt Frattin and Joffrey Lupul—in the next few weeks, I expect the Komisarek move to not be the only transaction the Leafs pull off as the month of March rolls on.