from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

That was not a scouting convention at the Scotiabank Arena on Monday night, it just seemed like one.

There were that many watching Toronto play Anaheim from up top in a semi-meaningless National Hockey League game 20 days from the league’s trade deadline.

Three scouts were here from Carolina. Two from New York and two from Columbus. Two from Tampa and two from Montreal, including general manager Marc Bergevin. Two from Florida and singles from nine other teams.

Mostly, I was told, to watch middle-roster players from Anaheim, where just about everybody not named John Gibson, Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg is up for sale. Ducks general manager Bob Murray taking all calls on Line 1 as we speak.

In fairness to the old-school Murray and the Ducks, whose best days as a contender have come and gone, losing is what the team unofficially wants to do between now and the end of the season. They want to bottom out. Get a high draft pick for a change. That’s the plan they won’t officially talk about. It’s the Leafs of 2015-16 — time to refresh the roster.

That’s why coach Randy Carlyle hasn’t been fired.

continued

Regarding the game, the Ducks lost 6-1 to the Leafs, highlights are below.