Chris Pronger - Maple Leaf?

A popular hockey blogger is reporting tonight that the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a pitch for the disgruntled (I love that word for describing angry athletes - "disguntled." I always imagine a clucking chicken, scooting away from you in the barnyard with its feathers ruffled), MVP-quality defenseman the Oilers now seem forced to trade.

Apparently, the Leafs have offered Tomas Kaberle and Matt Stajan, but the Oilers want Alexander Steen instead of Stajan. And the kicker! The Leafs are reportedly "very serious about getting this done". Here's the full post, in case it disappears (great editing, by-the-by):

"According to sources the Leafs ar making a serious pitch for Pronger...Reports have the Leafs willing to trade Kaberle and Stajan...The Oilers want Steen instead of Stajan...The Leafs are "Very Serious" about getting this done, according to one of my most trusted sources..."

When statements are floated like, oh, the Oilers want Steen, not Stajan (who wouldn't, for crying out loud?), the breathless reader can almost visualize the phone lines burning up over the particulars of the trade. Why, with the Oilers demanding Steen over Stajan, this deal is all but done, right? With the principals decided on (Pronger, Kaberle), the decision on the other player involved is only a minor detail standing in the way of Pronger pulling a Leaf sweater over his head by Monday night. The cherry on the sundae is the fact that the rumour arrived thanks to, possibly, the "most trusted source."

Maybe it was a slow day on the internet (Sundays are notorious for lousy internet traffic - and just look at the weather out there), and Eklund wanted to crank up the hits today. There's nothing like a Maple Leaf rumour to get the forums hopping.

This poster also reported these other Pronger moves since yesterday:

1.) phillips, emery, and eaves from Ottawa for pronger (e1)

2.) Strong Rumor (e3-4) Redden has re-signed with Ottawa, and Ottawa has traded Havlat, Phillipa and #1 for Pronger

Yet today, we learn that Toronto has all but landed the monster defenseman, if only they can agree to let go of Steen.

I'm not saying it won't happen. I'd be ecstatic. But something this crazy, I'd have to see it happen to believe it.

When it comes to rumourmongering, I'll quote my old grampa: "You throw enough bullshit at a wall, some of it is bound to stick there."