Profiling the Newest Toronto Maple Leafs from the Kapanen Trade
Thanks to a slick trade, the Toronto Maple Leafs have added three new players to the organization. We breakdown what to expect of each of them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a massive trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
At the center of the deal is winger, Kasperi Kapanen. Without the success that the team was hoping for and unable to qualify for the playoffs, General Manager Kyle Dubas needed to make changes.
We profile all the new players that will be joining the Maple Leafs next season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Newest Members
Instead of making excuses for a disappointing season, Dubas got right to work trying to improve the outlook for the team. Ultimately, he was able to fleece the Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.
Rutherford appears to be very fond of Kapanen. That might be why he gave up so much to re-acquire the speedy Fin. Rutherford originally drafted Kapanen at 22nd overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft for the Penguins. Before he could suit up for the team, Kapanen was sent to Toronto as a part of a package in 2015 in exchange for Phil Kessel, Tyler Biggs and Tim Erixon.
Shipping Kapanen back to Pittsburgh gives Toronto a very important draft pick after they lost out on drafting a gem. They will now select 15th in the upcoming NHL Draft. The Leafs won’t just enjoy the opportunity to build their team this way, but they also add what could be important players to the organization.
Filip Hallander
Filip Hallander is a high octane forward who has played both center and on the wing. As a likely replacement for Kapanen, he too is adept at getting back in his own end to help force turnovers. In fact, he is often seen backchecking and forchecking.
Hallander took a little longer in his development than the Penguins were hoping for. Instead of sending him to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to play in the American Hockey League (AHL), Rutherford loaned him to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to play professionally in Europe.
While there, he was seen as a high IQ player that both passed and shot the puck well. This has made him a dual-threat on offense with an ability to both score and help create chances for his teammates.
This past season, Hallander played for Luleå HF in the SHL. Hallander got off to a slow start due to a leg fracture that kept him out of the lineup for the first half of the season. He still managed to play 27 games, where he recorded five goals and nine assists for a total of14 points. In the team’s postseason, he added two goals and two helpers in six additional games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely hoping that Hallander can fit on their second line next season as he has been projected to be a top-six forward.
Evan Rodrigues
Evan Rodrigues is an interesting acquisition. He’s a player who took the long route to the NHL having played Junior A with the Georgetown Raiders before getting his degree at Boston University.
In the NCAA, scouts saw Rodrigues potential while he was a senior. He finished that season second in scoring to his linemate Jack Eichel. Rodrigues recorded 61 points in 41 games. This helped him as an undrafted free agent.
Rodrigues signed with the Buffalo Sabres where he bounced back and forth between the Rochester Americans in the AHL and their big club. In 2018-19, he finally became a full-time NHLer.
He played 74 games and scored 9 goals and 20 assists that season. He followed that up with a less productive season. He played 38 games and picked up nine points before the Sabres flipped him to the Penguins with Conor Sheary for Dominik Kahun. Rodrigues played just seven games for the Pens, where he scored one goal.
Rodrigues is apparently someone who the Maple Leafs specifically targetted. He wasn’t just a throw-in as a part of the six-player deal.
Dreger on TSN1050 says the Leafs have liked Hallander and Rodrigues for a while. They think Hallander is going to be a very good piece.
— #1 A'Ja Wilson Fan (@Account4hockey) August 25, 2020
Sounds like they could keep Rodrigues if they can agree to an extension
The hope for Rodrigues should be that he is able to get into the lineup by playing in the Leafs bottom six, although it doesn’t seem like he is better than options the team already has like Nic Petan, Adam Brooks or Garrett Wilson. The 5’11” 27 year old center should get a chance to prove that he can be a valuable contributor to the team, if he signs.
The biggest obstacle for Toronto getting Rodrigues in their lineup is his contract situation. He is currently a restricted free agent. This means that Dubas will need to negotiate a new contract with him in order to ensure that the center gets the opportunity to dress for the Leafs.
David Warsofsky
David Warsofsky is a 30-year-old 5’9″ 170 lbs defenseman. He has played a handful of NHL games for four different teams. He hasn’t participated in an NHL contest since April of 2018 and instead has been relegated to plying his trade in the minors.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Warsofsky won’t get the chance to play for the Buds but it is highly unlikely to happen unless the team needs to call him up as a result of injuries to their blueline.
Warsofsky will be a serviceable defenseman for the Toronto Marlies’ coach, Greg Moore. His addition in this trade is likely as a replacement for the vacancy left by Jesper Lindgren.
Warsofsky’s value will be immeasurable as an older presence in the Marlies locker room where he could help guide the organization’s younger defenseman. This season, Warsofsky was the captain for Wilkes-Barre and the assistant captain for the Colorado Eagles the previous season. As a developmental team, it’s always positive to have another hand working with the youth in the organization.
While he may act as an additional coach, Warsofsky will also contribute on the ice. He played 51 games in the AHL this year where he scored 10 goals and added 23 helpers. Warsofsky also sat for 49 minutes in penalties and was -33.
Next. The Leafs Commit Robbery With Trade. dark
As much as the Toronto Maple Leafs will miss Kapanen, they managed to turn him into a useful group of assets that should help move the franchise forward. This trade will be fully evaluated after the NHL Entry Draft when Toronto is able to use their new number 15 pick to add more youth. Until that player is ready to play for the Buds, Dubas will gladly see Hallander and Rodrigues skate for his team.