Toronto Maple Leafs

Here we go again. More NHL trade speculation involving the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Today, TSN analyst Darren Dreger reported that the Los Angeles Kings are believed to be interested in wingers Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur.

MacArthur has posted 16 goals and 11 helpers for a total of 27 points in 44 games this season for the eighth-place Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the 26-year-old winger has elevated his play as of late, recording six points in the past three games.

Mikhail Grabovski has been hot in the month of January recording 17 points in 13 games.

His play has lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a great month improving their overall record to 26-19-6 for a total of 58 points. Their play has been good enough to have the Leafs sitting in 8th place in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke must do everything in his power to acquire Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The sniper would thrive in Toronto and would immediately make the Leafs one of the Eastern Conference's most dangerous sleeper teams.

Rumors are swirling that Jeff Carter may be on the trading block (h/t Edmonton Journal). The rumor claims that the Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets are working on a trade, the core of which is Carter and this year's 2012 first round pick to Toronto for Mikhail Grabovski and Luke Schenn.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are arguably the most polarizing team in the NHL.

You love them. You hate them.

They're up. They're down.

They have boundless potential. They suck...

Perhaps the truth of the matter is that both positive and negative sentiments are correct at one time or another.

The reality is that it is much more of a complex relationship that fans and haters have with this team—which makes them that much more fun to talk about.

It's All-Star Weekend in the NHL.

That means the unofficial first half to the season has wrapped up.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, it has been an up-and-down 49 games that has included several winning streaks as well as losing streaks.

Rumours have been rampant over the past several weeks that Brian Burke is making a run at acquiring Ryan Getzlaf from the Anaheim Ducks. There have also been several reports that Getzlaf is not really available as Ducks GM Bob Murray has said they aren't in rebuilding mode.

On Christmas Day, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson tiptoed downstairs and tweeted to his followers that he had received a very special gift this year: a brand spanking new contract extension. Well, that and a Red Ryder BB Gun:

"He came! He came!" Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!

Many phones around the NHL will be ringing over the next month and a half as the NHL trade deadline is right around the corner.

Trade talks and rumors have already started, with names like Bobby Ryan, Alex Semin and Luke Schenn being thrown around through the media.  

Dating back to the days of the "Original Six", the Toronto Maple Leafs have formed, and maintained, some fierce rivalries with other clubs.

Rivalries with the other 5 teams that formed the "Original Six" came naturally, as the Leafs would play only them all season long.