The Maple Leafs general manager shot down a rumour that he would send the Leafs’ seventh overall pick in the NHL entry draft in June to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second pick overall and right winger Ryan Malone. The catch is Malone is under contract through the 2014-15 season at a salary cap hit of $4.5-million US a season for each of the next six years.

“I have no comment,” Burke said. “It certainly has not been discussed at our end.”

A source in Tampa also scuttled the speculation.

— Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun

I've now heard this rumour more than once, with Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman bringing it really out in the open today during a radio appearance locally.

The Lightning ownership group is really struggling with its debtload right now and I expect they will drop significant salary, but throwing the No. 2 pick overboard is likely to be incredibly unpopular with the team's already dwindling fanbase. The fact they would have to do it to cover up Malone's horrible contract will not sit well with fans in Florida.

From the Leafs' perspective, however, this would make a lot of sense, as Malone's salary would be easy enough to hide in the minors or buyout down the line. Having the No. 2 overall pick also puts Brian Burke much closer to potentially being able to draft John Tavares.