The Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs connected on a trade as the Predators announced they have traded forward Miikka Salomaki to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Ben Harpur. While neither has made much of a mark on their NHL teams this year, each team bolstered their depth for their upcoming playoff run.
This deal is more likely to satisfy each team’s AHL squad. The 26-year-old Salomaki is a player who has plenty of NHL experience, but has struggled to find a full-time role and never fulfilled the potential that made him a second-round pick in 2011. He appeared in a career-high 61 games for Nashville in 2015-16 and then again in 58 games in 2017-18, but in between spent most of his playing time with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. This year, he has appeared in five games for the Predators with one goal, but has spent 41 games in Milwaukee with five goals and 15 points. He should provide some much needed wing depth for the Toronto Marlies, who have sent several of their top forwards to help with the Maple Leafs’ depth issues.
On the other hand, Harpur can add some depth for the Predators. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound blueliner has also struggled to realize his potential and has fared poorly with the Marlies as a third-pairing option there. The team picked him up as part of the offseason trade that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs send Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and other parts to Ottawa for Cody Ceci and Harpur and other pieces as well. The 25-year-old hasn’t seen any NHL action this year and, according to The Athletic’s James Mirtle, has wanted out of Toronto for a while. He adds a big body for a Milwaukee team and can serve as emergency insurance in case Nashville’s defense suffers injuries. He has one goal and 11 points in 33 games with the Marlies.
Yeay that’s so exciting considering Barrie is done for the year now
They should have sat Barrie tonight. Unless they had no plans to trade him. Also should have given Harpur a chance with the big club. He’s not the fleetest of foot but the team has that in spades. What they don’t have enough of is sandpaper and that’s exactly what Harpur would have given them.
Hindsight is 20/20. The Leafs also need to win tonight so they need to dress the best available lineup. They aren’t a bottom dwelling team like the Sens that can just sit players who may or may not get traded.
Leafs aren’t going anywhere this year even if they do make the playoffs. I’m a Leaf fan, have been for about 50 years. But I’m also a realist. They have no intention of re-signing Barrie so it makes sense to trade him. And if you’re going to trade a guy then you sit him the game before the trade deadline. Amateur mistake.
Agreed Barrie wasn’t coming back and everyone knew it might as well package him for someone who will be here next year
that’s much easier said then done. trade a ufa for a player with term. sure no other team in the NHL would try and squeeze more knowing that’s what they want.
oh and Barrie is back so this out for the season stuff, let it go. geez the sky is falling anytime anything happens
If you watched him leave the ice you woulda thought he was done for the year too. The guy looked like he was in serious pain
I did watch. it wasn’t great but it certainly was instant “out for season” worthy.
was not instant out for season worthy
Who said anything about the sky falling? We’re just hockey fans making points on a hockey discussion board. Who made you the hyperbole police? By the way, money ball does NOT work. Try watching the movie again.
F***ing idiot. Look whose out there dummy.
Big mistake of many by Dubas,
Welp I’m done no longer a fan of the leafs jumping ship to the flames
And leaf fans will likely thank you.
Pretty bad when your own Zamboni driver comes in as emergency relief and beats you in Toronto.