Brad Treliving’s Worst Trades Prior to Joining the Toronto Maple Leafs

Treliving’s 3rd Worst Trade

In October of 2018, Treliving moved his then 24-year-old defenseman Brett Kulak to the Montreal Canadiens for two blue line prospects, Rinat Valiev and Matt Taormina.

Valiev may be a familiar name to Toronto Maple Leafs fans. He played 10 games for the Buds in 2015-16 and also spent three years with the Toronto Marlies. At the time of the trade, the left defenseman had played a total of 12 games in the NHL. Valiev never ended up cracking Calgary’s lineup. He played two seasons for Stockton Heat in the AHL before heading to the KHL.

Taormina had more NHL experience than Valiev when he was shipped to Calgary. He had played 59 total games in the NHL. Now retired, Taormina also never made it to the Flames. He remained active for only a single season playing with the Heat before hanging up his skates.

Treliving knew when he traded Kulak that he was giving up the best player in the exchange. Kulak had already played 101 NHL games but was bouncing back and forth between the AHL and NHL.

With Valiev and Taormina unable to make their ways back to the NHL, Kulak established himself as a solid bottom pairing defenseman who deserved full time minutes in the NHL. He is still in the league, playing an important role for the Edmonton Oilers. His current contract pays him an average annual salary of $2,750,000.