Deal Or No Deal Canada: Calgary and Toronto Could Help Each Other Out

As is often the case, when there are two teams struggling as bad as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames, a trade is only a matter of time. 

While the Leafs' struggles have pretty much been the duration of the season, Calgary's up and down play has been over the past two months, and their recent 1-5-1 slide in the last seven games has put them dangerously close to falling out of playoff contention in the West.

These two teams have a history; who can forget the 10-player deal that was, statistically speaking, one of the most lopsided in NHL history as The Leafs acquired Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville and Rick Wamsley from the Flames in exchange for Gary Leeman, Alexander Godynyuk, Jeff Reese, Michel Petit and Craig Berube.

Now Brian Burke probably isn't going to rob Darryl Sutter blind like Cliff Fletcher did to his successor Doug Risebrough in the Gilmour deal, but with the names on both clubs that could use a change of scenery, there is a possibility that these two GM's could both come out on the winning end.

Just look at how well the Montreal Canadiens deal with the Wild worked out. Both Benoit Pouliot and Guillaume Lattendresse are playing inspired hockey since the change of address.

The Maple Leafs, despite having some very capable defenseman, have allowed the most goals in the NHL (170 through 49 games thus far). The Calgary Flames have allowed the fifth fewest.

Would it be so outrageous for two struggling young defenseman like the Leafs Luke Schenn and the Flames Dion Phaneuf to be involved in a swap?

If you ask me, it makes as much sense as James Cameron doing a sequel to Avatar.

The Flames are one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL; in fact they are tied with the Leafs in that department, scoring only 130 goals over 49 games.

Both teams have numerous underachieving forwards that could benefit from a change, and Calgary has two soon-to-be free agents in Olli Jokinen and Rene Bourque that I'm sure Darryl Sutter doesn't want to see walk for nothing, ala Mike Cammalleri.

Last time I checked, the Leafs had just one bonafide top six forward in the lineup.

And if you throw in the young prospects these teams have stockpiled, you could have yourselves one heck of a deal.

Now Calgary GM Darryl Sutter might be hesitant to make a deal as his team isn't out of the playoff race just yet; they don't seem to be showing any improvements over Flames teams from the past four season's that got eliminated in the first round each year.

Also, the team had hoped not to over work Miikka Kiprusoff this season, but due to the lack of an NHL caliber backup, he is likely to play 70 games once again along with the Olympics.

Would Vesa Toskala fit that bill?

Brian Burke is likely ready to talk if some genuine talent is available to be had, though a Leafs trade with the Flames may be just wishful thinking even if the possibilities do sound too good to pass up.

In both Toronto and Calgarys situation, they may want to consider making a deal.

But maybe Hugh Allen said it best, "Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along."

And if that's the case maybe Dustin Boyd for John Mitchell will suffice.

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