The Deals
The first deal of the day for the Maple Leafs saw Toronto send Michael Hutchinson to the Colorado Avalanche for Calle Rosen. Hutchinson gets a fresh start with a new team and Rosen returns to a team he is familiar with. Hutchinson did not have a great start this season and has never fully recovered. When the Maple Leafs brought Jack Campbell in from the Los Angeles Kings, the writing was on the wall for Hutchinson.
Next, the Maple Leafs traded Jordan Schmaltz to the New York Islanders for Matt Lorito. Schmaltz traded to Toronto in the summer from St. Louis. He was brought in to be added depth for the Maple Leafs defense. However, Schmaltz did not make the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp and he has spent the entire season playing the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Toronto Marlies. Lorito provides the Maple Leafs with forward depth on the Toronto Marlies.
The final trade of the day for the Maple Leafs saw the team as part of a rare three-team deal. This move involved both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks traded goaltender Robin Lehner to the Golden Knights for Malcolm Subban and Slava Demin. Now, in order for this trade to work, the Golden Knights needed to find another team to help eat up some of Lehner’s salary cap hit. Along with taking 44 percent ($1.10 million) of Lehner’s contract, the Maple Leafs also traded Martins Dzierkals to the Golden Knights. In return for their part in this deal, the Maple Leafs received a 5th round pick in the 2020 draft.
Other Transactions
Maple Leafs forward Dmytro Timashov was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Red Wings today. Timashov played in 39 games for the Maple Leafs this season and recorded 9 points.
The Maple Leafs also announced today that they have re-signed Jake Muzzin to a 4-year contract. Muzzin’s new deal has an AAV of $5.625 million. The deal includes a No Movement Clause (NMC) in the first year of the deal. For years 2-4 of the deal, Muzzin has a 10-team No Trade Clause (NTC). He will have to submit a list of up to 10 teams he won’t accept a trade to.
Final Thoughts
I think, like most Maple Leafs fans, I was expecting to see at least one trade of significance today. I’ll admit I was disappointed when that didn’t happen. Now that I’ve had time to sit back and look at the big picture, I can understand why a deal wasn’t made. The Maple Leafs believe that both Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci will return from their injuries before the playoffs start. If that is, in fact, the case, then the Maple Leafs need to make sure they have the cap space needed for their return from LTIR. Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas also feels that this team needs to figure out how to rise above their struggles on their own. Will the Maple Leafs be able to overcome their recent struggles? With only 19 games left, we will soon find out.
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