Instant Analysis: Toronto Maple Leafs Pull Off Blockbuster Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a blockbuster trade.

Shortly after we all logged off for the day, thinking that the fireworks of July 1st had run it’s course, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent us back to our computers by making an absolutely insane trade.

Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a third round pick go to the Colorado Avalanche for Tyson Barrie, Alex Kerfott and a sixth rounder.

It sucks to lose Nazem Kadri, but nevertheless this trade looks like a grandslam for Kyle Dubas and the Leafs.

Kadri for Barrie

Barrie is a 27 year-old right-side defender who (we assume) will pair with Morgan Rielly to give the Leafs one of the best top pairings in the NHL.  This pair could be slightly challenged defensively, but when they combined for 131 points last year, who cares?

To make things even better, the Avalanche are retaining half of Tyson Barrie’s salary. (Capfriendly.com).

So yes, as crazy as it sounds:  the Toronto Maple Leafs will upgrade from Ron Hainsey with a player about 10x better, and they’ll pay him almost a million dollars less.

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Chart from evolving-hockey.com and used with permission.

Barrie will be a UFA after this upcoming season.

In Alex Kerfoot, the Leafs get Kadri’s replacement on the third line, one who doesn’t need to play as much.  They also get the elite level defensive forward they’ve never had since Leo Komarov’s prime.

Kerfoot is so good defensively that I wrote earlier this year that he should win the Selke.  Regardless of whether I was making a good choice (I probably wasn’t) the fact remains he’s an excellent defender and a solid pickup.

Kerfoot needs to be signed toa  new contract, but he only has two years in the league and has a career high of 19 goals and 43 points.  He should get a fairly reasonable deal.

The Leafs – at 3C – didn’t need Kadri’s offense, and Kerfoot is a large defensive upgrade.

It’s arguable whether or not Barrie is an upgrade on Gardiner (he is on the power-play, but Rielly has already got that locked down), but he is – at worst – a suitable replacement.   (Plus at time of writing at least, there’s still hope the Leafs can re-sign Gardiner).

This trade really helps the Leafs for two reasons.  The first is that they trade a position of strength (scoring centre) for two positions of weakness (defensive forward, top pairing defender).

The second reason is that the Leafs potentially increase their first-line worthy player count by one.  Kadri puts up first line numbers, and so does Tyson Barrie.  It’s possible that Kerfoot’s defensive game makes him the equivalent of a first line scorer.

The risk reward is in the Leafs favor here.  They massively improve their blueline, and they get the defensive forward they clearly needed.

The money, once the Leafs sign Kerfott, should be about even.  The draft pick was a third rounder that is probably lower than the one Ottawa traded them earlier in the day (and which it’s insane they even included, so it’s like a bonus).

From a sentimental standpoint, I hate this trade because I love Nazem Kadri and he is one of my all-time favorite Leafs.

From a I-want-to-see-the-Leafs-win-a-Cup standpoint, this is a no-doubt slam-dunk of a trade.

Another great move from Kyle Dubas, who even his biggest detractors now must admit they were wrong about.