#13. Toronto trades Patrick Marleau, conditional 1st round pick and 2020 7th round pick to Carolina Hurricanes for 2020 6th round pick (June 22, 2019)
Thoughts: Everyone knew the third year of the Patrick Marleau contract would bite them.
With a $6.25 million cap-hit, it cost Dubas a 1st round pick in order to ship him away, and they didn’t receive much in return. The trade is good because they unloaded the contract, but terrible because they had to sacrifice a 1st round pick.
Grade: F, but that’s on Lou Lamoriello.
#14. Toronto trades Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and 2020 3rd round pick to Colorado Avalanche for Tyson Barrie, Alex Kerfoot and 2020 6th round pick (July 1, 2019)
Thoughts: It’s very possible that by July 1, 2020 Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot will no longer play for Toronto so this trade has turned out terribly.
Barrie will most likely walk as a UFA, and in order to save cap-space, Kerfoot could be gone soon. At first glance, it felt that Barrie would be a huge help on the blue-line, but unfortunately it hasn’t turned out that way.
Grade: F
#15. Toronto trades Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and Michael Carcone to Ottawa Senators for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk and 2020 3rd round pick (July 1, 2019)
Thoughts: Although there were a lot of moving parts in this trade, the most important player to discuss is Nikita Zaitsev.
Under contract making $4.5 million until 2023-24, Zaitsev’s contract was a necessary move and they didn’t give up too much to do so. Cody Ceci hasn’t been amazing during his time in Toronto, but at least he’s a free agent after this season, so overall this was a good trade.
Grade: B
#16. Toronto trades Garret Sparks to Vegas Golden Knights for David Clarkson and 2020 4th round pick (July 23, 2019)
Thoughts: By helping the Golden Knights out, the Leafs took on David Clarkson’s contract for the 2019-20 season in return for a 2020 4th round pick. After a dismal 2018-19 season, Toronto Maple Leafs fans were looking to drive Garret Sparks to the airport, so securing a middle draft pick for Sparks was good work by Dubas.
Grade: B