The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville for Nashville's 2015 first round pick, prospect Brendan Leipsic, and Olli Jokinen.
Nashville's got a good chance of going deep in the playoffs (just look at that defensive depth), and while first round picks are always great, I'm excited to see what Leipsic turns into. He's got 7 goals and 35 points in 47 AHL games in his 20-year-old debut AHL season, and McKenzie described him as an "energy guy, small but hits hard, stirs the pot. He gets under opponents' skin. Skilled offensively, good vision."
Jokinen isn't much at this point. He's had six points in 48 games, and has been a healthy scratch for the last few games in Nashville. Per Dreger, Jokinen isn't thrilled to be moved from the top of the league to the bottom (big surprise), so we'll see if he actually reports. Maybe the Leafs can promise him some big minutes for the sake of the tank. If not, maybe there's a seventh round pick to be found on the flip.
It's also worth pointing out that Santorelli is a UFA-best-case-scenario. Signed for a low cap hit and short term, performed well, and flipped for a long-term asset at the deadline. Win-win-win for the Leafs.
The Leafs are going to miss Franson at D, but they weren't going to get him under contract and they aren't going to be competitive before he starts to decline due to age. Overall, this seems like a good-value trade, and getting it done early only helps the Leafs' tank.