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Top 10 Best Trades in Toronto Maple Leafs History

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Ondrej Kase #25 of the Anaheim Ducks battles against Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Ondrej Kase #25 of the Anaheim Ducks battles against Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 11: Zach Hyman #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

#5. Zach Hyman for Greg McKegg

The Trade:

  • Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Zach Hyman
  • Florida Panthers acquire: Greg McKegg

Now that we’ve seen the type of player that Zach Hyman has turned into, it’s hard to think that the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired him back in 2015, in a one-for-one trade for Greg McKegg.

McKegg has turned into a journeyman, having now played for six NHL teams in the past six years. He’ll continue to be a fourth-line player who will be in and out of the line-up every night, but he’s not going to be a difference maker. Personally, I think he would have been a great fit back on the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he’s no Zach Hyman.

Hyman has always been a late-bloomer. He played all four years of NCAA hockey with the University of Michigan and it wasn’t until his last season, where things took off. During his senior season, he was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award after scoring 54 points in 37 games.

After that spectacular season, Hyman opted to become a Free Agent, instead of signing with the Florida Panthers who drafted him. As a result, the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to trade Greg McKegg to Florida in exchange for Hyman’s rights and the team worked out a contract not long afterwards.

As a Toronto native, the Toronto Maple Leafs lucked out that Hyman wanted to sign in his hometown, and that the Florida Panthers wanted to make a deal. Hyman has finished with back-to-back 20-goal seasons and is one of the most reliable players on the team.

Night-after-night, you know you’re going to get a hard-working player who can help on the penalty-kill and potentially score. He’s been an important piece paired beside Auston Matthews most nights and the ability to have traded a fourth-line player for him, makes this one of the best trades in team history.

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