Insider Trading: Leafs' assistant GM Gilman spotted at back-to-back Canucks games

he Toronto Maple Leafs are one of a handful of teams that reportedly have interest in Canucks' forward J.T. Miller, and as the TSN Hockey Insiders explain, Leafs' assistant GM Laurence Gilman has been seen scouting the Canucks. What could this mean as the deadline approaches? As well, could the Russia-Ukraine conflict have an impact on KHL players like Andrei Kuzmenko signing in the NHL? The Insiders have all that and more.

How will the Russian invasion of Ukraine affect KHL players signing with NHL teams this off-season?

Darren Dreger: There isn’t a firm answer yet, it’s a developing story. I can tell you that the National Hockey league and NHL clubs are closely monitoring the war activity involving Russia. But what if Russia closes its borders? What if the Canada-United States federal governments stop work visas for the Russian players hoping to come over and make their way in the NHL?   It could become very problematic for a top unrestricted free-agent prospect like Andrei Kuzmenko. Now, Kuzmenko is trying to stick to a plan. He was hoping to play for his country at the Beijing Olympics, and that didn’t pan out for him. He was hoping to be a part of the men’s national team at the World Championships in Finland; well Russia is banned, so he’s not going to play there.    Right now he’s focused on the KHL playoffs and he isn’t going to make his decision until the end of the NHL season. But, politically, he might get trumped in making that decision.  What do we make of Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant general manager Laurence Gilman scouting the Vancouver Canucks very closely?  Pierre LeBrun: Gilman was there for back-to-back games. He was spotted at Madison Square Garden to watch Rangers-Canucks and he was in New Jersey to