The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have acquired veteran center Tomas Plekanec from the Montreal Canadiens. The trade will have Montreal sending Plekanec and forward Kyle Baun to Toronto in exchange for defenseman Rinat Valiev, winger Kerby Rychel and Toronto’s second-round pick in the 2018 draft. The Canadiens will retain 50 percent of Plekanec’s salary (the maximum allowed), according to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie.
With the Canadiens retaining half of Plekanec’s salary, that still leaves Toronto with $6MM in cap space to work with, meaning they could still add another piece if they choose to do so. Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby writes the team is interesting in acquiring New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
Many predicted that Toronto would hop into the trade market, especially after the Boston Bruins added Rick Nash this morning from the New York Rangers. On the surface it looks like Toronto made a nice move as they moved two average prospects and a second-rounder to improve their bottom-line depth at center. There has been talk that Toronto coach Mike Babcock hasn’t been high on their fourth-line center Dominic Moore. Plekanec can now fill that void and energize the team’s bottom lines.
Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that the Canadiens worked with Plekanec to find the right fit although he did not have a no-trade clause. The 35-year-old wanted to stay in the Eastern Conference. The also talked about an extension in Montreal and there remains the possibility to bring Plekanec back to Montreal in the offseason. Plekanec, who has been with the franchise his entire career has played 981 games in Montreal.
As for the Canadiens, the team did get a number of pieces in return for the long-time center. They received Toronto’s second-rounder, which will give the franchise four second-round picks in this year’s draft.
Valiev is likely to join Montreal for the rest of the season as the 22-year-old defenseman is a left-handed defenseman, who many believe should fill out to be a solid bottom-pairing defenseman. He has played three full seasons with the AHL Toronto Marlies and has made 10 appearances for the Maple Leafs, all last season. Valiev has five goals and 10 assists in 40 games this year with the Marlies. Rychel is a former first-round pick in 2013 by the Columbus Blue Jackets but struggled to produce. Columbus traded him to Toronto two years ago and Rychel has shown some promise, putting up 19 goals last year with the Marlies and he currently has 10 goals this year. Both are good players, but were having trouble breaking through the Maple Leafs depth charts. That may change with Montreal.
Toronto also got Baun in the deal. While he has played five games in the NHL, that was back in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Since being acquired at the start of the season from the Chicago Blackhawks, Baun has spent the season with the Laval Rocket of the AHL and four goals and 12 assists in 54 games.
I am beyond conflicted on this trade. On one hand, I like the Habs got a 2nd plus two lottery tickets(I expected them to get a 3rd). But at the same time, WHY TO TORONTO!?
I think it’s an overpay from Toronto. As it is now, he’ll be a 4th line centre. Well 3rd while Matthews is out.
My buddy and I are trying to figure this out from Toronto’s standpoint and we don’t know how this makes sense for them unless they have a deal to move Bozak. Otherwise paying that price for what would amount to a 4th line C(and wasting Plekanec’s primary value as a shutdown C) is just not a good trade.
That’s my thought. Why spend a 2nd on a 4th C when defence is the area they need help.
Maybe to Winnipeg? I know they were in on Plekanec, so maybe Winnipeg tries to pry Bozak from Toronto.
Winnipeg does have depth on D, I could see the 2 matching up on a deal.
I don’t think it’s that bad a deal. A second was always expected for Plekanec. Rychel and Valiev had no future in Toronto as other players passed them on the depth chart. Depth at Centre was needed to guard against injury and last game showed that as instead of calling up a Centre they shifted Nylander to that position. Besides, at the trade deadline many trades are essentially an overpay
Could have used that 2nd to land Cole from Ottawa. They were linked to him before. Lou is sneaky, I’m sure there’s something brewing that nobody has heard in the rumour mill.
Cole is exactly what the Leafs need.
Then again, he’s exactly what the Pens need to…
Cole won’t net a 2nd unless the sens offer to retain salary .
the move is a good depth piece. on top of fourth line he will be a big help in the face off dot and play on the PK. also understand the deal is this way because of Montreal’s salary retention. that has become the new major bargaining chip for teams selling assets.
Which is what leads me to believe something big is planned by Lou. The Leafs have tons of cap room for the year, still 6 million to be used. They didn’t need 50% of the salary retained…
Nylander played Centre all his life until playing in the NHL. Same with Marner. Marleau and Komorov also have played centre in the past.
AND considering Letestu could have been had for a 4th round pick instead of a second…they do the same job. So compared to that Letestu deal, yes it’s an overpay for a 2nd for Plekanec
But if Matthews gets hurt again, or Bozak, or Kadri, or worst yet more than one of them, would you feel comfortable with Letestu or Moore or Gauthier taking their place? Yes Marner, Nylander and Marleau all have centering experience but there’s a reason they’re not naturally placed there and are only used as stop gaps.
We gave them 2 fringe players and a second round pick which we had 2 second round picks. For a chance to win a cup you take chances
If it was the best package offered id just go with it. Even if its the Leafs
Agreed. And if Plekanec is on his last legs, it’s not like they’re moving a franchise building block to a division rival. If anything, Toronto seemed to give up a decent amount considering the role Plekanec is likely to fill (bottom six center).
To try and stick it to the Bruins.
What’s known about Baun? As a Leafs fan, it’s nice to hear that name coming to Toronto lol
I just found out he’s Bobby Baun’s grandson so definitely a Leafs connection there. Other than that, he’s a bottom 6 AHL player. I wasn’t too impressed with him whenever I watched Laval play.
Would have preferred getting Letestu for a 4th
You just found out he was Bobby’s grandson?…and u weren’t impressed watching him with Laval,,,,,,”Baun” didn’t ring a bell then, LOL
I think the Leafs will be plenty happy with the production from Plekanec and the stifling of production of the other teams top players. He’s an underrated shutdown C. I like this from both sides. Also, those turtlenecks are wonderful!
There’s a lot of hate for the turtle neck. I don’t mind it.