Toronto Maple Leafs Small Trade Means Big Changes

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade today that didn’t grab the headlines.  What comes next certainly could.

The Toronto Maple Leafs completed a trade today with the Tampa Bay Lightning and perhaps you didn’t notice unless you’re a fan of one of these teams.  The Leafs sent forwards Carter Ashton and David Broll to the Lightning in exchange for…well, nothing.

Seriously.

The 2016 draft pick heading back to Toronto, according to Lightning beat writer Erik Erlendsson, has a condition attached to tied to Ashton:

Ashton has NHL experience and could cash in on that condition, which should make Maple Leafs fans ecstatic.  Ok probably not.  But the wheels are certainly turning now in Toronto and this feels like only the first domino to fall.   When you start to unwind this deal, as much as you can a deal where someone is essentially traded for air, it’s clear the trade was about the numbers.  The first number being 48.  After this trade the Toronto Maple Leafs have opened up a pair of roster spots and backed down from the maximum number of 50 allowable.  The second number is less significant.  Moving Ashton and his $850,500 salary off the roster isn’t clearing the cap space necessary to make a significant acquisition on its own.  Broll has played the entire season with the Toronto Marlies and carries an even smaller cap number.  Before the trade according to spotrac.com the Toronto Maple Leafs boasted a max cap space of just over $1.2 million.

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So on its own this trade means the Leafs are not adding to the current roster and making a run at the playoffs.  Not without further deconstruction.  And it will not be significant enough to improve the negotiations with Cody Franson, whom Elliotte Friedman discusses in his “30 Thoughts” column.  Friedman refers to unnamed agents interpreting the negotiations with Franson and the three-year deal he was offered as a “we tried” effort.  Does that mean Franson is on his way out? Not so fast.  The Leafs would like to keep Franson considering he’s the best defensemen on the roster, he’s young at 27, and also is fourth on the team in points.  In his position Franson wouldn’t be out of line to expect Matt Niskanen money and term ($5.75 million over 7 years).

If keeping Franson is a priority – and it should be – the Toronto Maple Leafs will need to shed an albatross in the form of Dion Phaneuf.  Maple Leafs fans seem to have targeted Phaneuf as the team struggles.  Such is the burden of expectations brought on by an over $7 million dollar contract and now the Leafs are trying to relieve themselves of that burden.  As a reminder of how hard that is consider how long it took the Vancouver Canucks to move Roberto Luongo.  This is not going to be a simple trade.   That said there is smoke around Phaneuf and it’s not just coming out of his ears after the Leafs losing streak crosses double digits.  The Los Angeles Kings are looking for defensive help and, according to Friedman in the same “30 Thoughts” column above, have discussed moving their own obscene contract in the demoted Mike Richards.  Toronto wants more back in that deal and I don’t blame them.

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I can’t imagine the Toronto Maple Leafs being willing to part with Phil Kessel.  He is still an elite scorer, as is James Van Riemsdyk.  Both would bring back a tremendous haul but the Leafs are not going to be able to strip this team down enough to satisfy the tanking frenzy that has taken over seemingly one-third of the NHL.  They have too far to fall and as a result it would be foolish to trade away ALL of their top talent.  Tyler Bozak is signed through 2018 and carries a reasonable cap hit for team looking to add depth and punch at center.  He would also clear enough salary to provide Franson with a deal closer to market value.

And what of the goaltenders?  Jonathan Bernier is a restricted free agent after this year and could be moved at the deadline to the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets or any other team looking to stabilize their crease for the playoffs.  His rights would also bring value to the acquiring team should they choose not to sign him.  James Reimer could also be dealt.  He has a slightly lower cap hit and is unrestricted after next season.  Can you build around one of these goaltenders?  Do the Leafs want to?  Goaltending help seems to be at a premium with injuries and inconsistencies around the league, which could hurt the market and force the Leafs to stand pat with their net minders.

The trade combinations on the Toronto Maple Leafs appear endless.  The roster isn’t good enough to compete for the Stanley Cup and that is never good enough in the high pressure market at the center of the hockey universe.  With three weeks left before the trade deadline you can bet there will be daily rumors about nearly everyone on the roster.  The challenge will be separating fact from fiction.  Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to look drastically different next year.  And for the next three weeks nobody outside of the war room in Toronto will know what that means.

As frustrating as that is for Leafs fans this trade, this small trade, seems to be setting up a true change in direction for the franchise.  The trip out of NHL purgatory for the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to have started with the smallest step.  Just walk before you run.

Next: The Oilers May Chart A New Direction At The Draft