The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Sam Rafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe from Chicago on Monday.
Toronto sent a 2025 conditional first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, prospect Pavel Gogolev and forward Joey Anderson to the Blackhawks for Lafferty, McCabe, and conditional picks in 2024 and 25. Earned a fifth-round pick. Chicago keeps half of McCabe’s salary.
The Leafs look to be on a crash course again to face the Lightnings in the first round of the playoffs after losing a 7-game series last year. Tampa Bay on Sunday paid a hefty price for forward Tanner Jannott, sending young defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks to Nashville, including the first in 2025.
The Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 21 and reached the final in 2022.
“The reality of trade deadlines is that you have to overpay,” Lightning general manager Julian Brisebois said at a news conference in Tampa on Monday. It took a lot to collect, and my job, my responsibility as steward of this group, is to take risks from time to time to maximize the benefits of this era.”
Lafferty and McCabe continued the flow of talent from Western Conference sellers to Toronto’s Eastern competitors.Also on Sunday, New Jersey acquired big winger Timo Meyer from San Jose to lead the NHL. Boston acquired defenseman Dmitri Orloff and forward Garnett Hathaway from Washington on Thursday.
Fitzgerald laughed, “Everybody wants to trade a really good East player.” “
Previously, the New York Islanders acquired 30-goal-scoring center Bo Horbatt from Vancouver, while the Rangers acquired prolific offensive winger Vladimir Tarasenko and huge defenseman Nico Mikkola from St. Louis. The Leafs have already traded Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly and deep forward Noel Acciari to improve their chances of winning the playoff series for the first time in nearly 20 years.
But making it through the Atlantic Division with the Lightnings and No. 1 Bruins, and then the East-at-Large, where the Carolina Hurricanes, Devils, or Rangers all await in the Conference Finals, is no small feat.
“The East is a great power,” said Fitzgerald on Sunday night.
And that’s even before the Rangers acquire Patrick Kane from Chicago, the last highly anticipated trade before Friday’s deadline, which is subject to New York’s salary cap situation. , pointed out that Lightning is still the best in the East until someone beats them.
The Leafs want it, and McCabe has signed a contract for two more seasons after this season, definitely bolstering one of their weaknesses, the blue line. Lafferty, who is also under contract later this year, is adding more depth to Toronto.
The same could be said for Jeannott with Tampa Bay, in a similar deal that Bridesboa acquired Brandon Hegel from Chicago at a deadline a year ago. BriseBois acquired defenseman David Savard (2021) and forwards Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman (2020) the previous year to lift the cup every time.
Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, who assisted the Lightning on three trips to the Finals, told reporters in Ottawa:
Based on history, he’s not wrong, and Tampa Bay may not be over.
“Never say that,” said BriseBois. “There has been a lot of focus on this deal over the last few years. Now that we are able to bring it to the finish line, we are meeting again today to see if there are other opportunities worth exploring. intend”
Las Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said the same thing Sunday after acquiring 2019 Cup-winning forward Ivan Barbachev from St. Louis. Linked to Ekholm.
Winnipeg’s acquisition of winger Nino Niederreiter from the Predators on Saturday woke West up, and Dallas responded by acquiring four-time 20-goaler Evgeny Dadonov from Montreal, saving cap space in the process. Released nearly half a million of and more moves.
“It would be nice if there was some movement going forward,” Stars general manager Jim Nil said at a press conference in Dallas. “If there’s anything that can help us, we have the property, so we think it’s a good value and we’re looking into it.”
One deal that won’t happen before the deadline is for San Jose to trade two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Eric Carlson. He is having a career renaissance and, at 32, could win the award again. It’s easier to make big deals like the off-season, but you can make a few more by Friday.
“Things go fast at this time of year,” says Grier. “The team is kind of preparing and I think it will recover pretty quickly over the next few days.”
