Grading All the Toronto Maple Leafs Off-Season Moves: July Edition

Cody Ceci Trade

The Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and Dubas connected in order to make a six-player trade that may work in favour of both organizations.

This swap may have been predicated on Nikita Zaitsev’s request to be relocated ahead of next season. Dubas made it happen, while also clearing some cap space, an important theme in most of the team’s offseason transactions.

The biggest acquisition for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the trade was Cody Ceci. He was a restricted free agent and the Senators weren’t able to extend him. Upon the move to Toronto, he inked a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, the same AAV as Zaitsev.

Ceci is believed by some to be a  valuable defenceman, while others have expressed their belief that he isn’t guaranteed to make the team. With the available personnel, I would find it shocking if Ceci doesn’t find himself on the club.

That is especially true because Mike Babcock will love that their new defenceman is a right-handed shot. Unfortunately, the coach may also get frustrated by some of Ceci’s defensive instincts.

Ceci’s metrics suggest that he struggled on the ice last season. That could be as a result of playing for a poor team. Alternatively, it could be that his skill-set isn’t much greater than Zaitsev’s if it is at all.

The other players joining the Leafs will have less of an impact. At 24-years-old, Ben Harpur will join Ceci, Schmaltz, Marincin, Holl, Liljegren, Sandin and Gravel for three spots in the Leafs opening night lineup.

Harpur will need to prove himself at training camp. Aaron Luchuk will act as a farmhand, likely to be a depth piece with the Toronto Marlies.

Babcock may miss having Connor Brown to deploy in situations that require a two-way forward, especially on the penalty kill. He is certain to be given a greater opportunity to grow his game, especially offensively by playing in Ottawa.

Grade: B-