The Maple Leafs made a move to shore up their depth at center by acquiring Peter Holland from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Ducks first rounder was obtained along with enforcer Brad Staubitz in exchange for defenseman Jesse Blacker, Anaheim’s 7th round pick in 2014(acquired last season in a deal for David Steckel) and a conditional 2014 draft pick.
The 6’2” 185 lb native of Caledon, ON was selected 15th overall in the 2009 and has split time between the Ducks and their AHL affiliates in Syracuse and Norfolk over the last three seasons. In 29 career NHL games, Holland has five goals and two assists.
Staubitz, 29, is a much travelled tough forward who has made stops in San Jose, Minnesota, Montreal and Anaheim and has spent the entire 2013-14 season with the AHL Norfolk Admirals.
The conditional pick in the deal at worst will be a third round pick, but could be as high as second if Holland reaches certain milestones. Staubitz will be assigned to the Toronto Marlies.
The deal was necessitated by the Leafs struggles in the wake of injuries to Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland and the suspension of Nazem Kadri. Toronto went with a center compliment of James van Riemsdyk, Jay McClement, Jerred Smithson and Marlies captain Trevor Smith on Friday is a 3-1 loss to the last place Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center.
INTERESTED IN TICKETS TO THE GAME???: Get Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets For Any Game At FanXchange.com.
Van Riemsdyk’s move from wing to center appears to not be working, as he has gone without a point in the last five games and is losing close to 60% of his faceoffs.
Head coach Randy Carlyle appeared frustrated during his post game press conference when asked whether he would move the struggling van Riemsdyk off the top line, which may have been an impetus to the Leafs dealing for Holland.
“I don’t have anybody else.” Carlyle said. “What else do you want me to do, put a defenseman at forward?”
The acquisition of Holland will allow van Riemsdyk to move back to the wing where he is more effective until Bozak and Kadri return next week.
Holland is in the final year of his entry-level contract making $870,000 and can be called up and down from the AHL without clearing waivers, giving the Leafs more flexibility.
The 22-year-old Blacker was the Leafs second round pick in the 2009 Draft and played solidly for two seasons with the Toronto Marlies, but became a victim of the numbers game with the Leafs AHL affiliate as newcomers Andrew MacWilliam, Stuart Percy and Petter Granberg jumped ahead of the Toronto native on the depth chart. Blacker sat for most of October and played five games for the Marlies, scoring one goal.
With their organizational depth on the blueline, which includes 2012 first rounder Morgan Rielly, second rounder Matt Finn and 2011 draft pick Tom Nilsson, Leafs GM Dave Nonis felt that he could make a deal from a position of strength to add a young center with an upside for a young blueliner. To make room for Holland, the Leafs have placed winger Troy Bodie on waivers in order to demote him to the Toronto Marlies.
Holland will wear jersey #24 and will be in the lineup for the Leafs for the second of the home-and-home with the Sabres, who will start Jhonas Enroth in goal. Toronto will come back with James Reimer, after Jonathan Bernier played in Buffalo on Friday night.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
For Those on Twitter:
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»