Confirmed with Link: [TOR/CBJ] LD Mikko Lehtonen to CBJ for G Veini Vehvilainen

[Faltorvo]

The trade deadline isn't even close .. Let's give it until then until we start freaking out about depth.

As it stands, health wise:

Liljegren
Marincin
Rosen

Are the next up.. Sandin slots in there somewhere when he returns and gets some games in.

and you wonder why i am freaking?????

you have MM as our #2 D rep,,,,nufff said

 

[NK94]

I can understand trading Lehtonen for a goalie, but damn if Vehviläinen isn't an underwhelming return. Not good enough for this to make any sense.

Dubas wasn’t going to get a kings ransom for a guy who couldn’t crack the lineup, come on now.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Well, clearly Leafs didn't like what they saw, or, Lehtonen was possibly unhappy behind the scenes.

It also means they see something in this goalie that suggests he has the potential to be an affordable 1 or 2 moving forward next year, and/or the injury to Campbell is worse than we know. This will also free up cash for next year. If it was just a "hockey trade", this is a bit of a head scratcher taken on it's face.

Personally, I'm not a fan of light, offense only D-men which is what I saw with Lehtonen. Maybe I'm wrong. I prefer a Muzzin, Reilly, Brodie type with a shutdown pair somewhere in the six, over six Karlsons.

This probably also signals some other moves moving forward. If there was ever a year where Leafs ship out draft picks and prospects for a shot, this would be it. They have their nucleus signed for at least three more years, they have to be in "win-now mode", for this period of time.

The way I assess the situation, if they can find a hard forward and even another top six D, it would be prudent to pursue them. When you consider Simmons coming back at some point, that's a realized additional of three regular upgrades in the lineup for the playoffs.

With the depth they have on the Taxi Squad and in the minors, they would be prepared for a playoff run which everyone is demanding.

 

[Menzinger]

I personally look forward to Dermott blowing his knee out next game with Sandin already hurt opening the door for the return of MARTIN MARINCIN

Lol. He's a man who will continue to haunt Leafs fans

With that said, how many other teams #7s are a clear cut ahead of him? At least as far as non-prospects go

 

[BertCorbeau]

and you wonder why i am freaking?????

you have MM as our #2 D rep,,,,nufff said

Marincin's the #9 d-man on the depth chart .. #8 with Sandin injured, but when Sandin is healthy he slots ahead of him.

As your 9th d-man you can do a lot worse than Marincin .. and I hate the guy

Sandin and Liljegren are two of the best defensive prospects in the AHL .. Not bad backup options.

 

[Ashdown2]

i am assuming lehtonen agent asked for a trade.
there was no reason to make this move, considering he is waiver except.

this is a bad trade no matter how you slice it . a servicable dman is worth more than an ahl backup goalie

 

[Albatros]

Dubas wasn’t going to get a kings ransom for a guy who couldn’t crack the lineup, come on now.

Probably not given that he's UFA in a few months, but what's the point of taking Vehviläinen? A new backup for the Marlies? Kaskisuo was at least a quality YouTuber.

 

[zeke]

Having both Kivihalme and Rosen scoring at 30gl/55pt paces as smooth skating LHD for the Marlies, in addition to Sandin, probably made this easier.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

I think this is to show KHL to have faith in Toronto when they decide to sign here as a free agent. We will provide them opportunity, if it works they stay or they can try somewhere they're needed. Nicely done.

 

[CapspaceKiller]

its either a trade request or Keefe completely gave up on him

 

[zeke]

Probably not given that he's UFA in a few months, but what's the point of taking Vehviläinen? A new backup for the Marlies? Kaskisuo was at least a quality YouTuber.

Vehviläinen was looking like a bit of a stud prospect before last year.

 

[Carltons Cup]

can we nickname him the Veini Vulva?

 

[paulhiggins]

Nice to see our cupboard is so full we can give away our assets. I don't care if it allows Lehtonen a chance to play or gives some other Leafs prospect a quicker path to the NHL or any other reason. He was highly regarded when he got here and you don't give stuff like that away unless you have a good reason and so far I haven't heard it but maybe it's being kept from us.

 

[Faltorvo]

Marincin's the #9 d-man on the depth chart .. #8 with Sandin injured, but when Sandin is healthy he slots ahead of him.

As your 9th d-man you can do a lot worse than Marincin .. and I hate the guy

Sandin and Liljegren are two of the best defensive prospects in the AHL .. Not bad backup options.

You keep dreaming that Sandin has anything to do with us this season,,,he is 1 month into a broken foot,,with 1 game under his belt in the last calendar year

 

[BertCorbeau]

i am assuming lehtonen agent asked for a trade.
there was no reason to make this move, considering he is waiver except.

this is a bad trade no matter how you slice it . a servicable dman is worth more than an ahl backup goalie

Ehh the Leafs need to rely on all sources, including Euro/Russian UFA's to bring in quality talent to supplant their core cheaply. They need to persuade these guys to come over to sign with the Leafs, despite limited opportunity on the roster. They want guarantees that they'll get a roster spots and the Leafs can't do that. So they ensure these guys can get a chance elsewhere if it doesn't work in Toronto. Helps keep guys interested in signing with the Leafs.

Likely why we will probably see Barabanov moved too.

 

[NK94]

Vehviläinen was looking like a bit of a stud prospect before last year.

There’s also nothing wrong with adding goaltending depth for a guy who wasn’t likely playing anytime soon, nor would be a Leaf next season.

 

[123offtheglass]

Damn it this deal sucks! Likely doing Lehtonen a favor by giving him opportunity somewhere else. There's goes our D depth, watch him go light it up in Columbus... Great trade by them

 

[Jozay]

Im assuming the agent said get him outta here because he wanted to play. Fair.

 

[BertCorbeau]

You keep dreaming that Sandin has anything to do with us this season,,,he is 1 month into a broken foot,,with 1 game under his belt in the last calendar year

If push comes to shove as the season goes on, once Sandin is healthy, yeah he'll get into the line up.. But that's only if an injury occurs. Hence depth. Otherwise he's playing with the Marlies. I'm not expecting him with the Leafs or dreaming, because I'm hopeful we won't see those injuries.

 

[pucksakes666]

Da da da ! “This just in major move , oh wait who are these players ?”

 

[trellaine201]

Best thing about this deal is trying to say his name ten times fast.

 

[notbias]

Nice to see our cupboard is so full we can give away our assets. I don't care if it allows Lehtonen a chance to play or gives some other Leafs prospect a quicker path to the NHL or any other reason. He was highly regarded when he got here and you don't give stuff like that away unless you have a good reason and so far I haven't heard it.

We have replacement players around his level in Liljegren, Sandin, and Rosen.
He wasn't getting playing time and this would probably sour our reputation with import players.
Showing the hockey community that the GM and coaching staff will do what is right for the player (Leivo, Lehtonen) can't hurt.

 

[showtime8]

The fear that Martin Marincin brings to this organization is astounding. I'm also within the mindset that there will likely be another defenseman added by the deadline to help with the playoff push.

They need some stability there.

I wonder if there's going to be a hold on KHL free agent signings with guys that are in their mid 20's. The Lehtonen signing was touted as something big. They signed Barabanov to a 900k contract and I would imagine he would be the next one out the door. All to be replaced by guys that played as 4th liners in the NHL on cheap deals.

 

[stickty111]

Yeah it was either this or he bolts to the KHL. Dubas wants to do right by the player so it's fine. The asset returning is insignificant.
What this does is make sure nobody blocks Sandin and Liljegren when we need them.

 

[supermann_98]

It's a good move imo even though I like Lehtonen and wish he got a shot. If he isn't the type of defenceman we need I'm glad Dubas moved him to get more playing time.

It's a good message to future free wallets that they won't rot in the minors.

Also by signing him it kept him away from the Habs who were all over that at the time.

Keep signing the free wallets and trading them for assets = profits