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Grading Every Kyle Dubas Trade as the Toronto Maple Leafs G.M

By Stephen Nixon

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19: Patrick Marleau #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates to the bench after a goal by the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on March 19, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19: Patrick Marleau #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates to the bench after a goal by the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on March 19, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson  . (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#4. Toronto trades Andrew Nielsen to Calgary Flames for Morgan Klimchuk (November 27, 2018)

Thoughts: Talk about a fall from grace for Andrew Nielsen.

He went from being one of best Toronto Marlies defenseman with NHL potential, to being a regular healthy scratch. Klimchuk on the other hand was struggling in the Flames system and a change of scenery was good for him.

The former 1st round pick only stayed a few weeks in Toronto before being traded again, so unfortunately the Leafs didn’t get much in return for Nielsen at the end of the day.

Grade: C –

#5. Toronto trades Josh Leivo to Vancouver Canucks for Michael Carcone (December 3, 2018)

Thoughts: Drafted 86th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Josh Leivo couldn’t find his fit in Toronto.

Mike Babcock barely gave him a chance, so Dubas was finally able to give Leivo his wish and trade him to a new city. In Vancouver, Leivo has been a very respectable player making the best of his time with the Canucks.

Michael Carcone ended up being a good fit with the Toronto Marlies for the 2018-19 season, before being traded in Cody Ceci deal that we’ll talk about later.

Grade: D –

#6. Toronto trades Adam Cracknell to Anaheim Ducks for Steven Oleksy (December 11, 2018)

Thoughts: Adam Cracknell’s coffee was still warm when he left Toronto. He only suited up for 13 games before being traded for Oleksy. Having previously played in Toronto’s system, Oleksy was a welcome face for management, so they knew what they were getting with him. Oleksy was a strong influence that year with the Marlies, but overall this trade was pretty vanilla.

Grade: C

#7. Toronto trades 2020 5th round pick to Florida for Michael Hutchinson (December 29, 2018)

Thoughts: Say what you want about Michael Hutchinson’s time in Toronto, but overall this was a great trade.

Hutchinson was essentially the back-up goalie so only giving up a 5th round pick is good value. Hutchinson was put in a very tough situation and Mike Babcock didn’t help much, so although he needed to be replaced a year later, this was a solid move at the time.

Grade: A –

#8. Toronto trades Morgan Klimchuk to Ottawa Senators for Gabriel Gagne (January 11, 2019)

Thoughts:  If you look back to trade #4, Andrew Neilsen was essentially traded for Gabriel Gagne because Klimchuk was in Toronto’s system for only 13 games.

To make things worse, Gagne only played 22 career games with the Marlies, and Klimchuk is currently having a solid year with the Belleville Senators.

Grade:  F

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