The Toronto Maple Leafs made another trade last night.
This move is not going to affect the Toronto Maple Leafs, but more so the Toronto Marlies.
The Leafs have acquired Max Veronneau from the Senators in exchange for Aaron Luchuck.
Max Veronneau has played 16 NHL games in total — putting up only four points.
He was a Hobey Baker nominee in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 season with the Princeton Tigers of the NCAA. During those two seasons, Veronneau played 130 games and recorded 144 points.
Going to Ottawa is Aaron Luchuk, who’s played most of this season with the Newfoundland Growlers. Luchuk has 49 points in 44 games in the ECHL, but he will likely move up to the Belleville Senators.
Also included in the trade — a conditional sixth-round pick in 2021. According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the condition is if Veronneau plays 10 NHL games this year and re-signs for next season.
What does this trade mean for the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Likely nothing.
The @MapleLeafs have acquired forward Max Veronneau from Ottawa in exchange for Aaron Luchuk and a 2021 conditional sixth-round pick.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 20, 2020
Details: https://t.co/UVTCXEIEkV#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/hLEgNteLph
Since Veronneau is a Hobey Baker nominee, the Toronto Maple Leafs could see an attribute in his game that they might want to try and develop with the Marlies before it’s too late.
It’s interesting though because one of the conditions for the sixth-round pick is 10 NHL games this season. He likely won’t hit that mark, but I guess anything is possible.
There could be more to this trade than people think. It’s possible that Veronneau could be a diamond in the rough, or be a part of a trade that sees him shipped out of Toronto by February 24th.
Both players in the trade are restricted free agents at the end of this season.
All in all though, this is likely just another depth move for the Marlies. With both Pontus Aberg and Matt Read taking up the top-two right-wing positions, he could make a strong case for the third line.
The Marlies need all the depth they can get if they want to make a serious playoff push this season, since the Toronto Maple Leafs keep taking all their best players.
But this could be a trade with more meaning than we all know. Kyle Dubas works in mysterious ways, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Veronneau is on another team by the trade deadline.
With just a few days left, every trade could mean something. We will never know though, unless Dubas makes another trade by Monday.