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Evaluating the trades of the Lamoriello era

July 23, 2017, 3:41 PM ET [229 Comments]
Mike Augello
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Today marks the second anniversary of the hiring of Lou Lamoriello by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The overall evaluation of the 74-year-old Hall of Famer’s tenure as Leafs GM has been positive, but entering the final year of his three-year contract (at least some believe it is his final year), it is a good time to take a look back at the 15 trades made during that 24-month span.

September 17, 2015 – Toronto acquires Michael Grabner from the NY Islanders for Carter Verhaeghe, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson, Taylor Beck and Matthew Finn.

The first deal of the Lamoriello era and it spoke volumes, as it was made on the opening day of training camp and no one had an idea it was coming.

The trade was of mutual benefit to both clubs, as the Islanders cleared a large cap hit and the Leafs moved out the contracts of five players that wanted to move on from.

Grabner went on to have a 20+ goal year with the Rangers last year, while only Gibson and Beck have played in the NHL since.

Grade – B+

January 3, 2016 – Toronto acquires Jeremy Morin from Chicago for Richard Panik

Panik was not someone that fit with head coach Mike Babcock’s system and was an RFA at the end of the 2015-16 season. Based on that, the Leafs would likely not have extended a qualifying offer last summer.

The failing in this deal was not getting more for Panik (who scored 22 goals for Chicago last season) than a journeyman in Morin who has been traded six times and played for seven professional teams in seven years.

Grade – D

February 9, 2016 – Toronto acquires Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, Tobias Lindberg and a 2017 second round pick from Ottawa for Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and Cody Donaghey.

Lamoriello’s signature accomplishment in Toronto. Most prognosticators believe that the Leafs would have to eat at least 25% of the 30-year-old Phaneuf’s $7 Million cap hit with five years remaining on his contract.

Instead, they took back over $9 Million in expiring contracts in Greening, Cowen and Michalek, but cleared the future cap space. Lamoriello bought out Cowen’s deal and buried Greening and Michalek in the minors and now Phaneuf’s deal is the Senators problem to worry about.

Grade – A

February 21, 2016 – Toronto acquires a 2016 fourth round pick and Colin Smith from Colorado for Shawn Matthias.

Part of the Leafs plan to sign UFA’s and convert them to draft picks. Toronto got defenseman Keaton Middleton with the fourth round pick.

Grade – B

February 22, 2016 – Toronto acquires Raffi Torres and a 2017 and 2018 second round pick from San Jose for Roman Polak and Nick Spaling.

A fantastic return from San Jose, as the Leafs got a pair of second rounders for eating the expiring contract of Torres and giving the Sharks a pair of depth rental players. Polak re-signed with Toronto after the season and Spaling signed in Switzerland.

Grade – A-

February 27, 2016 – Toronto acquires Alex Stalock, Ben Smith and a 2018 third round pick from San Jose for James Reimer and Jeremy Morin.

Trading Reimer helped the Leafs finish 30th overall and increased their chances in the Draft lottery to get Auston Matthews and also got back a third rounder that Toronto had to give up in compensation for signing Lamoriello away from New Jersey.

Grade – A-

February 28, 2016 – Toronto acquires Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick and a 2016 second round pick from Washington for Daniel Winnik and a 2016 fifth round pick.

Lamoriello again sells cap space for a draft pick and a young prospect. Laich was buried in the minors for the entire 2016-17 season, but the Leafs did get a young, mobile defenseman in Carrick and used the second rounder to select Carl Grundstrom, who could be playing in the NHL as soon as 2018.

Grade – A



June 20, 2016 – Toronto acquires goaltender Frederik Andersen from Anaheim for 2016 first round pick (Pittsburgh) and 2017 second rounder (San Jose)

Leafs get the stability in goal that they needed, for a pair of draft picks acquired in the Phil Kessel and Polak/Spaling deals. Toronto paid a steep price but through one season, Andersen does not appear to be plagued with the same pressure problems that effected Vesa Toskala, Andrew Raycroft or Jonathan Bernier.

Grade – B+

June 25, 2016 – Toronto acquires Kerby Rychel from Columbus for Scott Harrington.

Rychel led Marlies in scoring last season and might have an NHL future as a bottom-six forward. Harrington stayed on the Jackets NHL roster last season but did not play often.

Grade – C+

July 8, 2016 – Toronto acquires a 2017 conditional draft pick (which they did not receive) from Anaheim for Jonathan Bernier.

The second part of the Andersen deal that had to wait until after July 1, when the Leafs paid a $2 Million signing bonus to Bernier.

Grade – B+

December 9, 2016 – Toronto acquires a 2018 conditional pick (which they did not receive) from Arizona for Peter Holland.

The conditional pick was dependent on Arizona extending a qualifying offer to Holland. After scoring 11 points in 40 games, the Coyotes did not offer the former Leaf a contract and he signed with Montreal.

Grade – C

January 11, 2017 – Toronto acquires a 2018 seventh round pick from Anaheim for Jhonas Enroth.

Another deal necessitated by Babcock not liking a player. Toronto benefited by from a goaltending shortage in the Anaheim system and got a low round pick for Enroth.

Grade – B-

February 18, 2017 – Toronto acquires Sergey Kalinin from New jersey for Viktor Loov.

Minor league deal to help shore up the Marlies up the middle. Loov has re-signed with the Devils, while Kalinin is returning to the KHL after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Leafs.

Grade – C-

February 27, 2017 – Toronto acquires Brian Boyle from Tampa Bay for Byron Froese and a 2017 second round pick.

A pure rental deal to plug the Leafs fourth line center hole, but a questionable move based on where Toronto was in their rebuild. The cost of a second round pick for three assists in 21 games and a big-bodied penalty killer/faceoff specialist is too high and the Leafs may have made the playoffs without the deal.

Grade – D

March 1, 2017 – Toronto acquires Eric Fehr, Steven Oleksy and a 2017 fourth round pick from Pittsburgh for Frank Corrado.

Getting a draft pick (Russian prospect Vladislav Kara) for a player that Babcock would not play is a positive. Oleksy was an expiring contract, but Fehr has another year and a $2 Million salary. It was thought that the veteran forward was acquired as someone to be claimed or moved to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, but his salary and presence on the roster may cause the Leafs some headaches going forward.

Grade - C

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