Update: Just update as part of this deal the Leafs retain $500,000 of cap space from the Scrivens and Frattin contract
In case you guys haven’t heard, the LA Kings have traded Jonathan Bernier to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, and a 2nd round pick in either 2014 or 2015.
Personally I like the deal.
Last year, Frattin and Scrivens played a very small rôle in the Leafs success due to injuries or the fact that one is a backup. I would almost consider them to be "non-roster" players in that sense. Potentially, both are viewed to be depth players at best. Frattin at his highest point will likely be a 2nd line forward, while Scrivens will have to fight tooth and nail to get a chance at a starting job in the NHL. This fits LA’s needs as they can use both players to enhance their Stanley Cup contender status in the NHL. Also for LA, Frattin makes about $900,000 this year while Scrivens makes around $600,000. This cap hit will be just slightly more than what Jonathan Bernier was making over the last couple of years. This means they will not have to overly deviate from their payroll plans for one more year.
As far as the 2nd round pick, whether it’s for next year or in 2015, it will be a long time before we know the actual value of it. The thought process is likely that the Leafs will be an improved team after the acquisition thus the pick will be more inconsequential. Things like that in the past have bitten the Leafs in the butt before so we’ll have to take a “we shall see” approach.
This trade puts the Leafs in a situation that reminds me of an opportunity that they had post the 2005 lockout. The Leafs had two highly touted goalie prospects coming up in their system in Justin Pogge and Tuukka Rask. What I thought the thought process was going to be was that the Leafs would let the two goalies push each other to the point that they would be able decide which one is better for their organization after which they would trade the other for a greater need. However, John Ferguson Jr’s short-sightedness put a stop that idea when he traded Rask for Andrew Raycroft in order to fill the present “need”.
The Leafs find themselves in this position again with Bernier and Reimer. Both have shown potential to be a #1 goalie in this league and now will have to compete with each other to prove it. There are going to be a lot of fans upset that Reimer still isn’t fully getting his shot. The thought process being “What does the guy have to prove?” To me this is probably the last step for him. If he wants to keep the #1 job, he’s going to have to beat out Bernier for it. Both will be given a fair shot as the Leafs will need to make the right decision on who to keep.
The beauty of this trade is that we essentially traded depth for talent and potential. Bernier has the capability to be a great goalie in this league. This is as much a currency as cap space, prospects, or draft picks. I think it is pretty safe to say that an upgrade at goalie was not the team’s #1 need. That distinction would have to go to the centre position. I personally don’t think it was going to be possible to package Frattin and Scrivens to fulfill that need at this time. However, if both Bernier and Reimer continue to develop into prospective #1 goalies in this league, then that allows the team to deal from a strength to fill a hole. Being a contender in the league is all about building up as many assets as you can. The Kings are a prime example of this. Their core was built through the draft in Kopitar, Brown, Quick, and Doughty. But they achieved their status when they used the assets that they had to trade for Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in which they had traded Wayne Simmonds, Braydon Schenn, and Jack Johnson.
As long as you keep building up those assets eventually you should come with a team that will have a chance to excite this city by playing into June.
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