One day later and here's another trade for you:
. @SportChek Player Alert: Leafs acquire San Jose's 2017 and 2018 2nd Rd. picks and Raffi Torres for Roman Polak and Nick Spaling. #TMLtalk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 22, 2016
From the Maple Leafs website this delicious bit of info:
Torres, 34, will be re-assigned to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.
Well, that's good, because earlier this year we discussed if the Leafs should claim Torres off waivers here. Consensus was: NO.
The Maple Leafs traded two players for two draft picks and the responsibility to pay Torres' salary.
Roman Polak, who is an UFA this summer, was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a trade for Carl Gunnarsson. In his 1.5 seasons with the Maple Leafs he played in 111 games, scoring 6 goals, 16 assists, for 22 points.
As a defenseman his fancyier stats were:
Losing Polak won't be seen as a huge blow to the Leafs future.
Nick Spaling came to the Maple Leafs in the Phil Kessel trade, and he's played in 35 games, getting 1 goal, adding 6 assists for 7 points from the bottom of the line up.
Spaling is also a UFA this summer.
The Maple Leafs now have two extra 2nd round picks in 2017 & 2018, this could leave the Leafs with three second round picks in 2017. If the Penguins miss this years playoffs Toronto's 2017 2nd goes to Pittsburgh as part of the Kessel deal.
That makes two trades in two days, moving 3 pending UFA's. Michael Grabner, P.A. Parenteau, Mark Arcobello, Brad Boyes, Rich Clune, James Reimer, and TJ Brennan should have a bag packed just in case.