From the “He didn’t already ask for one?” files: defenseman Mike Komisarek made a request to be traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to True Hockey’s Andy Strickland.
The struggling player reportedly handed the Leafs a list of 12 teams he’d accept a trade to, although Strickland notes he’d probably accept just about any new destination if it meant that he’d receive more playing time.
Of course, finding a willing partner would be easier said than done, as Komisarek has dropped dramatically since his Montreal Canadiens days. The 31-year-old blueliner has only played in four games, a troubling figure considering the fact that his $4.5 million cap hit won’t expire until after the 2013-14 season.
One interesting note: the Leafs could agree to pay for a portion of Komisarek’s contract in a trade, which would increase the chances of another team at least hearing them out.
Even then, it seems like an amnesty buyout is a more realistic scenario, but stranger things have happened in the NHL.