Leafs GM Nonis says all is quiet on the trade front two days before NHL draft

SHORT HILLS, N.J. – Dave Nonis is finding things a little quiet on the trade front two days before the NHL draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs general manager said the constraints of the salary cap dropping from US$70.2 million to $64.3 million could make it harder to make deals this weekend.

The Leafs won’t make trades just for the sake of change, Nonis said. He added that he did not envision trading captain Dion Phaneuf but made it clear that no player is untouchable.

Nonis said there are a number of big-name players available in trades and a lack of teams willing to take them.

Toronto picks 21st in the first round of Sunday’s draft in Newark. Nonis would like to move up but figures the Maple Leafs can find a “quality player” at No. 21.

Nonis’ focus is more on the draft and potential trades this weekend than re-signing Tyler Bozak. Nonis said there wasn’t much progress to report on a new deal with The pending unrestricted free-agent centre.