The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded defenseman Roman Polak and forward Nick Spaling to the San Jose Sharks for a 2017 and 2018 2nd round pick, as well as forward Raffi Torres.
The 29-year old Polak was drafted 180th overall in the sixth round of the 2004 draft by the Blues. He carries a $2.75 million cap hit.
The 27-year old Spaling was drafted 58th overall in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Predators. He carries a $2.2 million cap hit.
The 34-year old Torres was drafted 5th overall in the first round of the 2000 draft by the Islanders. He carries a NHL cap hit $2 million.
Thoughts from the media:
- Leafs PR: “Raffi Torres will be re-assigned to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. “
- Pierre LeBrun: “Sharks have been on Polak for a while now. Fills their need for third-pair D-man”
- Chris Johnston: “There is no money retained in the TOR-SJ deal.”
- Pierre LeBrun: “The Leafs taking Raffi Torres in the deal was their way of taking back salary in the trade”
- Darren Dreger: “Talked about Polak to the Sharks, Thursday on Insider Trading. Good return for the Leafs in two 2nd round picks.”
- Pierre LeBrun: “Also key for San Jose was that the two picks traded to Toronto are in 2017 and 2018, not this year, that was important for the Sharks”
- Dustin Nielson: “The Leafs bringing in two second rounds picks for Polak and Spaling is a pretty good return if you ask me.”
- Shawn Simpson: “Leafs doing everything according to plan. Loading up picks while tearing down. Best example is Caps 2004. Tough part is rebuilding in TO!!!”
- General Fanager: “With the trade, #Leafs are now out from LTIR relief and are projected to end the season with $994,500 in cap space.”
