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Toronto Maple Leafs Trade News: Matthias to Colorado – Polak, Spaling to San Jose

By Ryan Ritchie

Dec 3, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak (46) skates after the puck in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak (46) skates after the puck in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs Trade News: Shawn Matthias to Colorado Late Sunday, Polak and Spaling to San Jose Monday Morning

Over a 36-hour span, we have two pieces of Toronto Maple Leafs trade news to share. On Sunday, Shawn Matthias was traded to Colorado, while on Monday morning, Roman Polak and Nick Spaling were sent to San Jose.

As expected, the Maple Leafs are beginning to unload their expiring contracts, and one-year rentals.  The theme should continue over the next week.

Among other Leafs players being rumored in trade talks are P.A. Parenteau, Daniel Winnik, Jonathan Bernier, Leo Komarov, Peter Holland, and Tyler Bozak.  At this point, the only true untouchable on the active 23-man roster is defenseman Morgan Rielly.

via NHL.com,

Matthias, 28, missed five games with a neck injury before scoring a goal in Toronto’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. He has six goals and 17 points in 51 games this season.

“When you think something is fair and you think something is right, you make that decision at that time,” Toronto general manager Lou Lamoriello told TSN.

Matthias, chosen by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 47) of the 2006 draft, has 75 goals and 148 points in 459 NHL games with the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Maple Leafs.

“He’s going to be an asset for the role Colorado is asking him to play,” Lamoriello said.

Smith, 22, has 13 goals and 34 points in 54 games this season with San Antonio of the American Hockey League. Lamoriello said Smith will add depth to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL at center.

“He will certainly go to the Marlies,” Lamoriello said. “This is another player that will help them get to the end where they want to be.”

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At 6’4 223lbs, Matthias is a big winger/center that fills a need for the Avalanche. Coach Patrick Roy has been juggling his lines lately to help put wins together, and is having success with Mikhail Grigorenko on their top line. Although having Nathan MacKinnon on the third line is not a long-term recipe for success. Given the fact that Grigorenko is bound to hit a wall at some point based on his inconsistencies, coupled with the downplay of Alex Tanguay, the Avalanche will have no problem making good use of Shawn Matthias down the stretch.

It’s disappointing to see Colorado adding pieces prior to the NHL trade deadline. They could add Jonathan Drouin and they’re still not good enough to get through the first round. Giving up prospects and draft picks for rentals makes little sense. This is a very questionable move by Joe Sakic.

Heading to Toronto is a 22-year-old center (5’10 178lbs) originally selected in the 7th round back in 2012. He’s shown improvement and spikes in productivity everywhere along the lines. He produced 85 points his second last year of junior with WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, and increased that total to 106 points in his last WHL season. After putting up 34 points in 76 games as an AHL rookie in 2013-14, he increased his points-per-game with 31 points in 53 games in 2014-15. He’s continued to see a slight increase in PPG in 2015-16 with 34 points in 54 games so far.

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade News: Two Leafs Dealt to San Jose

via NHL.com,

“Roman and Nick are both quality, character players that will compliment and enhance our current roster,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “Our existing group of players has battled hard and they have earned the right to have every chance to succeed this season.”

Polak, 29, had 13 points in 55 games and was fourth on the Maple Leafs in average ice time per game at 19:44.
Spaling, 27, scored his first goal of the season in the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. He had seven points in 35 games.

The Maple Leafs recalled forward Brendan Leipsic and defenseman Stuart Percy from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. They will be available when the Maple Leafs play the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Roman Polak fills a major need for San Jose heading into the postseason. Their third defensive pairing in particular is a major problem this season. Polak will step in and give the Sharks extra defensive security down the stretch. He also plays a gritty, physical style conducive to NHL playoff hockey.

Nick Spaling is more of a depth player for the Sharks playoff-run. He’s had struggles in Toronto this season, but has proven himself a useful bottom six forward through his time with Nashville and Pittsburgh.

via NHL.com,

The trades have given the Maple Leafs 12 picks in the 2016 draft, and as many as seven picks in the first two rounds of the next three drafts.

“I think the picks are the most important thing that we’ve gotten in these transactions,” Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “We’ll see what the players bring from now until the end of the year. Picks were most important, as far as giving us the opportunity, depending on where we’re at.”

Torres, 34, has not played a regular-season NHL game since March 8, 2014. He was suspended for 41 games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for a hit on the Anaheim Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg during a preseason game Oct. 3. He has zero points in six games with San Jose of the AHL, and the Maple Leafs announced he would remain there as a condition of the trade.

Next: NHL Trade Deadline: 25 Hypothetical Deals

It’s almost as if Raffi Torres doesn’t exist in the deal. Toronto will pay him moving forward, but he’ll remain with the San Jose Barracuda’s of the AHL. Is this the end of the line for Raffi Torres? Will he ever play another NHL game ever again? Time will tell.

It seems the NHL Trade Deadline is just beginning to heat up as it usually does around this time. Consider this the first of what should be many trades leading up to/and on the February 29th deadline.

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