The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens put aside their rivalry Sunday to make a trade just over 24 hours from the NHL trade deadline.
The deal involves the Canadiens sending top-six forward Tomas Plekanec to Toronto for a package of players and a draft pick. Here are the full details:
The Canadiens are in the midst of an awful season and could be headed for a rebuild — they’re not far off from one as it currently stands. They have stockpiled a total of nine draft picks for June’s draft, including four second-round selections.
The Leafs have won four straight games and sit one point ahead of the rival Boston Bruins for second place in the Atlantic Division after Saturday night’s 4-3 victory over the B’s (Boston does have five games in hand, though).
Plekanec is not having a great year offensively with 24 points (six goals 18 assists) through 60 games, but he does give a young Leafs squad 87 games of playoff experience and quality defensive play at center. This was a worthwhile gamble for a Leafs team hoping to reach the second round of the playoffs or further after last season’s first-round exit.
