In sifting through the long list of Toronto Maple Leafs trades processed over the past 10 years, a few things stand out.
For one, as much as fans and critics fawn over these team-to-team transactions — some not-so-shocking news: nothing does page views on Sportsnet.ca like trade stories do — the vast majority of trades have little to no consequence on the success of either team. Salary dumps; low-risk, low-payoff rentals; and minor leaguers crowd trade histories.
(I recall Dion Phaneuf’s 2016 midseason trade from Toronto to Ottawa doing silly traffic on our site. Nine pieces were involved! Sports talk and blog fodder for days! Yet outside of Phaneuf’s contributions to the Sens’ remarkable 2017 playoff run, the total impact of all the players involved to their new teams was minimal.)
Secondly, we are reminded how rare it is to win a trade when dealing within your own conference. Seven of our top 10 Leafs deals of the 2010s were consummated with a Western Conference team.
Finally, as hard as it is to knock a one-for-one hockey trade out the park, those are the ones that can really soar — or sting. And it’s a pair of intra-conference, one-for-one trades that take silver and gold in these rankings.
(Note: While we support February’s trade for Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford, L.A.’s full return is still unknown, so we withheld judgment.)
Here is a list of the best deals, from the Leafs’ point of view, Toronto has made since 2010.
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To St. Louis: 2018 first-round pick (25, Dominik Bokk)
June 22, 2018
Who knows? Maybe Bokk — a 20-year-old prospect since traded by the Blues to Carolina — will eventually move to North America and light it up, but right now the German is putting up modest numbers in the Swedish league.
The Leafs, on the other hand, have already begun reaping the rewards of trading down in the first round of the 2018 draft. Dubas exchanged the 25th-overall pick for the 29th and 76th. Sandin, 20, made the big club out of camp in ’19 and already looks destined for Toronto’s top four, while the diminutive Der-Arguchintsev put up a silly-good 75 points in 55 games with the Peterborough Petes this season and is begging for a greater challenge.
9. Somebody to hit somebody
To Toronto: Jake Muzzin
To Los Angeles: Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi’s rights, 2019 first-round pick (Tobias Bjornfot)
Jan. 28, 2019
While it’s impossible to fully evaluate this 2019 pre-deadline swap until the three Kings develop to their full potential, Muzzin is far and away the most valuable piece of the deal right now. The fact that string-puller Kyle Dubas re-signed Muzzin for four seasons beyond his year-and-half rental period has underscored how well the trade has paid off for the Leafs, who secured a pure shutdown defender with leadership, sandpaper and a booming shot.
Bjornfot, 18, was actually having a lovely AHL rookie campaign, putting up 19 points and a plus-13 rating in 44 games on the Ontario Reign’s back end and earning a brief NHL call-up. Power forward Grundstrom, 22, remains an excellent AHLer who has yet to carve an NHL niche. And Durzi, 21, signed with the Kings and jumped to the AHL after five OHL seasons.
8. Flipping a scratched forward into a stud prospect
To Toronto: 2019 fourth-round pick (Nick Abruzzese)
To St. Louis: Nikita Soshnikov
Feb. 16, 2018
Soshnikov, 26, was the type of energetic, feisty forward whose value likely got trumped up by plying his trade in hockey’s busiest media market. Toronto didn’t have enough ice time for all its depth wingers in 2018, so Lou Lamoriello traded the Russian for a fourth. Hampered by injuries, “Sosh” played all of 17 NHL games and scored just once over two seasons with the Blues before tearing up the KHL with Salavat Yulayev this season.
Toronto’s delayed fourth-rounder, however, was used by Dubas to secure what appears to be a steal. Abruzzese, a centreman, wowed in his rookie year with Harvard and is on our radar as one of the most talented prospects in the Leafs’ pipeline.
7. Burkie in a blowout
To Toronto: Cody Franson, Matthew Lombardi
To Nashville: Brett Lebda, Robert Slaney, 2013 fourth-round pick (Zachary Pochiro)
July 3, 2011
An edgy right-shot defender, Franson would devote the bulk of his four most productive NHL campaigns to the Maple Leafs, logging significant minutes and chipping in 21 to 33 assists in each of his seasons in Canada. The Leafs also got a year of service out of depth forward Lombardi.
David Poile, who was looking for futures from Brian Burke, watched Lebda, Slaney and Pochiro combine for a grand total of zero games played in Nashville.
Worse for the Preds? Poile rented Franson (plus Mike Santorelli) back from tank-job Toronto at the 2015 deadline in exchange for a first-round pick, Brenden Leipsic and Olli Jokinen. (Nashville’s playoff hopes were quickly extinguished in six games by the eventual champion Blackhawks.)
To Columbus: 2015 first-round pick (Gabriel Carlsson)
June 26, 2015
Another great example of Toronto trading down in the draft and doubling its chances of uncovering a real player.
While 23-year-old Columbus defence prospect Carlsson has underwhelmed for a first-rounder — three NHL assists scattered over 23 games in four seasons — last time we saw the Leafs, second-rounder Dermott logged more ice time than anyone else in an important March 10 victory over Tampa Bay. Dzierkals, 22, didn’t stick on this side of the pond and is playing in the Finnish Elite League, but the slick-skating, puck-moving Dermott (a pending RFA) still has a chance to be a top-four fixture in Toronto for years to come.
5. The cross-country blockbuster
To Toronto: Dion Phaneuf, Keith Aulie, Fredrik Sjostrom
To Calgary: Matt Stajan, Ian White, Jamal Mayers, Niklas Hagman
Jan. 31, 2010
Should Phaneuf have been named captain so quick? Probably not. Did he end up getting overpaid at the end of his Toronto tenure? Sure. But that doesn’t subtract from the fact the Leafs got the best player in their 2010, nine-player blockbuster with Calgary. The hard-nosed defenceman played huge minutes for six seasons.
Toronto also sold high on Hagman. After two 20-goal showings with Toronto, he never scored more than 11 Calgary.
Of the trade’s other components, Stajan was easily the most enduring figure, lasting in Calgary through 2017-18 and becoming a regraded leader in the room.
Easily the biggest win-win Maple Leafs deal of the decade.
Thanks to Lamoriello’s work here, the Maple Leafs secured their best goaltender in a decade (previously, Ed Belfour) and a much-needed security blanket for a young squad’s defensive woes. The workhorse Andersen set a new franchise record for regular-season wins (38) in 2017-18 and became the fastest European-born goalie to reach 200 wins earlier this season.
Meanwhile, in Disneyland, Andersen’s departure allowed John Gibson to thrive in a No. 1 role, and both Steel and Comtois have a fantastic shot at being core Ducks forwards for years to come.
The Ducks would get four-and-half more great years out of respected, stay-at-home, veteran d-man Beauchemin in his Anaheim return, including a stellar plus-62 run from 2012 to 2015 that included two deep post-season runs.
But in Lupul and Gardiner, Burke brought in two young, key pieces that would transcend to top-line essentials at their peak. (Prospect Bergvik never left the Swedish pro circuit.) Forever playing injury-shortened seasons, Lupul hit a career-high 67 points in 2011-12, earned a trip to the all-star game and thrived with Phil Kessel.
Before a bad back got the better of him, Gardiner skated eight seasons with the Leafs, reaching a high of 52 points and helping turn a turbulent roster into a playoff team.
2. He gets the puck
To Toronto: Zach Hyman
To Florida: Gregg McKegg
June 19, 2015
Absolutely, McKegg would use Florida has a destination to establish himself as an NHL-calibre depth centre, and the 27-year-old has now carved a nice veteran niche for himself down the Rangers’ lineup.
But the still-improving Hyman, also 27, has been a fixture in a Maple Leafs’ top six that was on the brink of driving his hometown organization to a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Even though he’s paid to forecheck and kill penalties, Hyman has posted back-to-back 21-goal campaigns and draws the best out of elite centremen Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
At the time of the deal — which was sealed during Brendan Shanahan’s three-month transitional period between firing general manager Dave Nonis and hiring Lamoriello — Florida threw in a conditional 2017 seventh-round draft pick if Hyman refused to sign in Toronto.
Yeah, Hyman’s probably better than the pick.
1. Burke’s parting gift to Leafs Nation
To Toronto: James van Riemsdyk
To Philadelphia: Luke Schenn
June 23, 2012
The last NHL Draft Brian Burke worked as Toronto’s GM was one of his best. Not only did he surprise with the excellent selection of defenceman Morgan Rielly higher than anticipated (No. 5) but he and then-Flyers GM Paul Holmgren plotted a one-for-one deal to unite the Schenn brothers in Philadelphia.
While defenceman Luke did play three-and-a-half decent seasons in Philly, Toronto got James van Riemsdyk’s prime scoring years. The silky-handed left winger thrived alongside elite righties like Kessel and, later, Mitch Marner. JVR finished off power plays with ease, hitting the 30-goal and 60-point marks twice each before walking back to Philadelphia as a free agent in 2018.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
