Merry Khristich for Leafs today?

By TIM WHARSNBY -- Toronto Sun The Maple Leafs have a sweater ready with Dmitri Khristich's name on it and will know by today whether the free-agent forward will be wearing it.
The attempt to acquire the talented Ukrainian dragged on for another day, but after speaking to Khristich's agent, Ottawa lawyer Larry Kelly, last night, the Leafs management team went to bed confident its offer would be the winning deal.
Leafs president Ken Dryden and assistant Bill Watters did not make it to their Air Canada Centre private box to watch the Leafs game against the Carolina Hurricanes last night until midway through the second period.
"I would like to think that with the amount of time and effort we have put into this thing we are going to be close," Watters said. "We're at the point now where it is either accept or reject.
"We moved forward with Kelly to the point that there is just one other team involved. And I'm just going by what Larry Kelly is telling me."
The Chicago Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators began the day as the main competition for the Leafs to land Khristich. Chicago likely remains in the running.
The Leafs' offer is believed to be a three-year deal worth $7.75 million to $8 million US.
The Leafs have worked out a trade with the Bruins -- either a draft pick or player -- so Boston will not match the offer to Khristich.
The Bruins exercised their right to walk away when Khristich was awarded $2.8 million by a salary arbitrator in early August.

Boston no obstacle
The Bruins have no right to match any offer from another team willing to pay Khristich a salary of $2.24 million or more (80% of the $2.8 million). But because Khristich's first-year salary in the Leafs' offer is less than $2.24 million, the Leafs don't want to take any chances.
"We're not sure how the NHL Players' Association or the league will rule, even though the average of our offer is more than the minimum," Watters said. "We're trying to protect ourselves from not having a deal. Boston is not the obstacle in the deal."
Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn talked to other general managers and coaches familiar with Khristich and came away satisfied.
If the Leafs acquire Khristich, because of a complicated collective bargaining agreement clause, Quinn must waive a player he protected for last month's waiver draft
If that player clears waivers, Quinn will have to trade a player or demote a player to St. John's to get down to the 23-player roster.
Quinn said the player won't necessarily be junior-aged Nik Antropov.

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