What the Tyler Toffoli trade means for the Leafs

The trade package that sent Tyler Toffoli from Montreal to Calgary may be an indicator of the kind of offer the Maple Leafs may need to make to aquire an impact player with term ahead of the deadline, as per Kyle Dubas' wishes.

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Video Transcript

- Well, it looks like the spirit of the trade deadline is actually approaching sooner than we expect because a huge trade took place. You know, Tyler Toffoli got moved from the Montreal Canadiens to the Calgary Flames in a relatively blockbuster deal, I guess if you want to call it.

It is one player going one way and multiple pieces going the other way. Great haul for the Habs. I mean, when it comes to a season like they're having, definitely want to load up on picks and prospects, and even just random players to kind of fill up the rest of the roster.

So good on them, good on Calgary for improving. I mean, we just saw with Calgary can do. They're already playing playoff style hockey, and adding Tyler Toffoli really helps. But how does this affect the Leafs? When you look at, again, at the package that Calgary gave up, so it was a first round pick, a fifth round pick, a roster player in Tyler Pitlick, and then a prospect in Emil Heineman.

Now I think the nature of this trade is that Tyler Toffoli isn't a UFA. He's not a rental. Like he's a player that will be on Calgary for the rest of this season and for the next two seasons. Now back to what Kyle Dubas said, he really wants to acquire players that have term. He doesn't really want to go for the quote unquote, "UFA rentals."

So when you think of the nature of this deal, and you think of again, what type of player that contractually that Dubas wants to acquire, I think this is the type, the formatted trade that we need to start expecting. You know, as much as Dubas says he doesn't want to move a first round pick, I think we might be getting to that point.

Again, this kind of is all or nothing season for the Leafs, so perhaps that first round pick will likely be dealt. And again, if it comes to acquiring a defenseman, especially an impact defenseman, or impact player overall that has term, perhaps giving up a first, giving up a roster player, and giving up a prospect might be the way to go.

Maybe this is where we see Nick Ritchie, even though Nick Ritchie hasn't played too much, this is where we see him get traded, or even Pierre Engvall, for example, or maybe even Travis Dermott, along with another pick, and maybe even a prospect.

Now are the higher prospects going to be traded, like a Matthew Knies, or a Tyler Voigt, or a Topi Niemela? I don't know about that. But it could be one of those prospects who are maybe just on the cusp of making the NHL. That could be moved in the process.

So even though you know, the nature of the trade, again, and what the Leafs want may be different, I think the package that Calgary had to give for Tyler Toffoli might be one that could be similar to what the Leafs have to give up once they start making their deals.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

- (SINGING) Accept trade.

- With all the back and forth as to what is the biggest issue on the Leafs, I actually took to Twitter and asked a question as to where do the Leafs need to improve on the most? Is it defense or is it on forward?

And a whopping majority of Leafs fans believe that it is defense that needs to improve, which does make a lot of sense. I think we've been paying attention to the second pairing with Jake Muzzin and Justin Hall and seeing a number of goals against happen with them on the ice.

And you have to think that has to be the area of concern. I mean, and every year in the playoffs, usually it is Jake Muzzin who ends up getting injured, and then so someone needs to play higher than their pay grade, and the Leafs fizzle out.

So who is going to end up being that player, being that defense and being that defensive help for the Leafs? And can they be that desirable you know, I guess factor, or that desirable presence on the blue line? And I think if it comes to the Leafs wanting to go further and beyond in the playoffs, that's an area that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

I understand the hype around trade deadline acquisitions, but I think it needs to happen earlier. And Kyle Dubas hasn't hesitated to make a deal you know way ahead of the trade deadline with the-- but I guess the unfortunate thing about trades is you know, trades isn't like playing Pokemon or you know, throwing Pokeballs at players.

You can't walk up to a player and throw a Pokeball at them and then just catch them. You know, you really need to do your research and figure out where the fit is. And I think Dubas has proven time and time again that he can pull off some desirable trades.

Now whether any of those moves actually pay off, well, we'll have to wait until the playoffs to see. I mean, just like every year, Ash Ketchum, you know, makes his team, he gets all these Pokemon, he goes to the Pokemon league, and we all think that he's going to win, and he doesn't.

But you know, that one season where he ended up winning was pretty sweet. And I know if the opportunity comes and the Leafs finally do win a playoff round, it will be pretty sweet. I mean, I'll probably cry. You'll cry as well, but I'll cry a lot, one day.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

- (SINGING) Accept trade.