Trading for Jordan Schmaltz
The Leafs traded Andreas Borgman to the St. Louis Blues for Jordan Schmaltz. It is a relatively minor deal with both teams hoping that the player they received can outperform what they have done in the past.
Schmaltz exits a Blues team with a clear picture of their blueline. The Leafs, on the other hand, have a lot of decisions to make. In St. Louis, Schmaltz was stuck playing behind Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, Colton Parayko, Robert Bortuzzo, Mitch Reinke and former Maple Leaf, Carl Gunnarsson who just re-signed with the Blues.
The path to holding a meaningful role is met with less resistance in Toronto. The Leafs have young defencemen like Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren who will try and make the jump from the AHL. They will be competing along with Schmaltz and few others to pick up an available spot on the Leafs defense.
Andreas Borgman, D
By trading away Borgman, the Leafs lost a physically strong defenceman with a high ceiling. He is a strong checker who is never afraid to get into the corners and work hard to come away with the puck.
Unfortunately, Borgman’s bout with staying healthy may have cost him opportunities in the NHL and may even have played a role in this trade. His future looked bright. He joined the Leafs after being named Rookie of the Year in the SHL, but concussions kept him from gaining the momentum he needed to get his career going. He will now get the chance to earn his spot with the Blues.
Grade: B-