This much we know about Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas right now.



“He’s trying very hard to be creative in creating cap space, like really hard,’’ an NHL source said on Friday.



Which means we are probably just scratching the surface with news on Thursday that Nikita Zaitsev wants out, followed by my little nugget that the Maple Leafs have talked to the Kings about Patrick Marleau.



My sense is that the Leafs have a lot of balls up in the air right now as they try to find cap space to sign pending RFA Mitch Marner. Furthermore, maybe they can somehow find a way to offer pending UFA Jake Gardiner a deal, even though it’s a long shot. And, oh yeah, somehow address the right side of their defence.



First on Marleau. We shall see whether or not the Kings and Leafs will be able to figure out how the pieces could fit to satisfy each club’s needs. From a Kings perspective, my sense is that while they’d be open to...