The Toronto Maple Leafs announced late Friday night that they made a three-team trade with the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild.
I suggested on Friday that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to be aggressive at the 2023 NHL trade deadline. Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas did just that by acquiring Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari from the Blues and Josh Pillar from the Wild.
O’Reilly’s $7.5 million cap hit is now down to $1.875 million for the Maple Leafs. The Blues retain 50%, and the Wild retain an additional 25%. Acciari comes with a cap hit of $1.25 million, so Toronto got both players for a combined cap hit of $3.125 million. Toronto also received unsigned prospect Josh Pillar in the three-team deal. (Salary cap info from capfriendly.com)
Going the other way are Mikhail Abramov, Adam Gaudette, Toronto’s 2023 first-round pick, Ottawa’s 2023 third-round pick, and Toronto’s 2024 second-round pick to St. Louis. Minnesota will receive Toronto’s 2025 fourth-round pick. None of those will help Toronto win now, and Toronto is in must-win mode.
Toronto Maple Leafs Newest Additions
O’Reilly and Acciari will waste no time getting settled in with their new team. Both players are expected to play in Toronto’s lineup on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens. To make room for their arrival, the Maple Leafs have sent Pontus Holmberg and Wayne Simmonds to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.
Ryan O’Reilly
Ryan O’Reilly brings a lot of things to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He gives them size (6’1, 210 Lbs), leadership (Captain in St. Louis), net-front presence, defense, secondary scoring, and a guy who knows what it takes to win as a Stanley Cup champion in 2019.
Ryan O'Reilly, acquired by TOR, is a top six two-way playmaking centre who typically has a very strong defensive impact. His production is down this year but he's still creating chances at a high rate. Big statement for the Leafs. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/hsQU5qzmGK
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 18, 2023
Although he has had some injury issues this season, he has looked good since returning on February 11th. O’Reilly has two goals and an assist for three points in three games since returning. He has 19 points in 40 games this season.
(Stats from hockey-reference.com)
Noel Acciari
Noel Acciari is, for lack of a better word, a bulldog. He might only be 5’10, but he uses his 210 Lbs effectively. Toronto is getting a bottom-six forward with 168 hits this season. Acciari also has 23 takeaways compared to six giveaways. He also has a 53.5% faceoff-winning percentage. When it comes to winning, Acciari will do whatever it takes to help his team, even if that means dropping the gloves and fighting from time to time.
Josh Pillar
Josh Pillar is a 21-year-old, 5’11, 172 Lbs forward drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL draft with the 127th overall pick.
He is currently unsigned and playing for the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL. Pillar has four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 13 games this season. (Stats from eliteprospects.com)