It’s all or nothing for the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the March 3rd NHL trade deadline.
The Leafs got busy on Tuesday, making huge roster moves and beefing up their defensive core with big name additions, and sending away big contracts in order to make room.
Frank Seravalli tweeted the news that the Leafs acquired one of the biggest trade bait players this season, Luke Schenn, from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a pick.
Then, a stream of news came from the Leafs’ management. Next was the acquisition of a 2024 third-round pick, sending Pierre Engvall (and his expiring $2.25 million contract) to the New York Islanders.
Another move in the same (very busy) hour saw the Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Erik Gustafsson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Rasmus Sandin and the Bruins’ 2023 first-round draft pick.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs all but officially slated to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, these moves seem deliberate and intended to combat the high-scoring Bolts and correct the issues that saw them lose in seven games in the same first-round tilt last year.