Nobody had any expectations for the Maple Leafs heading into this season. Everybody, the fans, the management, even the coaching staff and some of the players knew this would be a tough season. It was year one of a true rebuild, a year that would likely consist of signing veterans to a one year contract and looking to deal them at the deadline in exchange for prospects and draft picks while leaving their current talent in the minors to develop their game.
Leafs fans caught a glimpse of what they could expect in 2014-15 after the Leafs dealt players such as Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, and Daniel Winnik to contending teams in exchange for draft picks and prospects, which turned out pretty well given that they got a first round pick, a second round pick, and prospect Brendan Leipsic out of it as the major items. In this piece, I'll take a look at what the Leafs did this season in terms of larger deals. Let's take a look at the first.
FEBRUARY 9TH, 2016
TO OTTAWA
D Dion Phaneuf, D Cody Donaghey, F Casey Bailey, F Matt Frattin, F Ryan Rupert
TO TORONTO
D Jared Cowen, F Colin Greening, F Milan Michalek F Tobias Lindberg, 2017 2nd round pick
ANALYSIS
This was a great trade for both teams. The Senators end up with a solid defenseman who plays well at both ends of the ice in Phaneuf, whom will likely end up playing better than he did in Toronto due to the amount of pressure being taken off of his back, and they also get a handful of C level prospects who potentially could turn into something. The Leafs, meanwhile took back Lindberg, who provides much needed size onto the Leafs' AHL team, a 2nd round pick, which is always a good asset for a rebuild, and as for the other players, they're mainly cap dumps. Cowen has already been informed that he will be shut down for the season and bought out in the summer, Michalek is returning from injury and could provide a veteran presence on a very, very young Leafs squad, and Greening, who was also a throw in, is having a surprisingly decent run for the Leafs, earning powerplay time and usually top six minutes. Overall, this was a solid trade for both teams.
FEBRUARY 21ST, 2016
TO COLORADO
F Shawn Matthias
TO TORONTO
F Colin Smith, 2016 4th round pick
ANALYSIS
There isn't as much to talk about with this trade compared to the Phaneuf deal. Matthias was expected to be dealt despite the season he's having given his ability to play as a utility forward, and joined the Avalanche as a regular third line forward who can play on the penalty kill and contribute some offense. The Leafs got a prospect in Smith who's having a solid AHL season at age 22 and adds depth to an already stacked Marlies team, and again, any pick is a great asset for a rebuilding team, so they're perfectly happy with the 4th. All in all, this was a good trade for both teams given their situations.
FEBRUARY 22ND, 2016
TO SAN JOSE
F Nick Spaling, D Roman Polak
TO TORONTO
F Raffi Torres, 2017 2nd round pick, 2018 2nd round pick
ANALYSIS
It's safe to say that nobody was expecting two second round picks for Spaling and Polak, but Lou managed to work his magic with Sharks GM Doug Wilson. That being said, the Sharks are getting a solid stay at home defenseman who can fill in a veteran role on a Sharks team who are gearing up for a playoff run in Polak, and are also getting a solid, ideal bottom six forward who is good defensively in Nick Spaling. As for the Leafs, Raffi Torres was only thrown into the trade for the Sharks to dump a contract. Torres didn't even travel to Toronto, as he was loaned to the San Jose Barracuda, and then soon after announced that he would not be playing professional hockey for the remainder of the season. In general, this was a solid trade for the Sharks and a great trade for the Leafs, given that the Sharks get ideal playoff producers to help them on their run while the Leafs get MORE draft picks.
FEBRUARY 27TH, 2016
TO SAN JOSE
G James Reimer, F Jeremy Morin
TO TORONTO
G Alex Stalock, F Ben Smith, Conditional 2018 4th round pick
ANALYSIS
Lots of Leafs fans were enraged when they heard about this trade. Reimer had become a fan favourite in Toronto because let's face it, it was a feel-good story. He had two miserable seasons after a playoff run in 2013 when the Leafs acquired goaltender Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings, thus creating a battle in the crease in which Bernier managed to take control of for his first few years. This year, however, Reimer had a great stretch of games and had presumably taken over as the starting goalie. However, he was a pending UFA, and the Leafs didn't want to let him walk for nothing given their situation. Morin wasn't anything special, was more a throw in than anything, and the Leafs took back Smith, a solid bottom six forward, Stalock, a decent backup goalie who's been struggling a ton this season, and a conditional draft pick (again, you can't go wrong with a draft pick). It's safe to say that the Sharks won this trade, but merely because the Leafs didn't have any better offers.
FEBRUARY 28TH 2016
TO WASHINGTON
F Daniel Winnik, 2016 5th round pick
TO TORONTO
F Brooks Laich, D Connor Carrick, 2016 2nd round pick
ANALYSIS
Aside from the Phaneuf deal, this was probably one of the best returns the Leafs got over their series of trades this season. Winnik took a step back from the solid season he had last year with the Maple Leafs, and wasn't expected to be dealt due to his two year conract. However, Lou pulled off a trade with the Caps right before midnight on the 28th and brought back Laich, a solid penalty killer that was thrown in as a cap dump which would allow the Caps to make more moves, Connor Carrick, a solid prospect defenseman who's producing good totals in the AHL, and yet ANOTHER second round pick. I believe the Leafs won this deal, but the Caps got a very nice return as well.
AFTERMATH
One thing that surprised Leafs fans around the globe was that they didn't make any deals today, the initial trade deadline day. They were expected to deal P.A. Parenteau, a veteran who's a pending UFA and having a solid season, along with other veterans who could be of help to contenders such as Brad Boyes, Michael Grabner, and Mark Arcobello. That being said, they made their share of trades and nobody is complaining with what Lou has managed to do with this team.
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