Leafs’ trades create opening for young talent
Percy, Leipsic called up from Marlies after departure of Polak, Spaling and Matthias
After making a second trade in less than 24 hours, the Maple Leafs underlined the fact they are prioritizing draft picks while opening the door for some of their Marlies prospects to prove themselves with the big club.
Defenceman Stuart Percy stepped through that door Monday morning, joining Brendan Leipsic as the two AHL call-ups who will fill out the Leaf roster after a trade with San Jose Monday morning.
Percy arrived just as veteran defenceman Roman Polak and forward Nick Spaling were leaving. Those two were the latest Leaf veterans to change addresses, with Toronto sending them to the Sharks in exchange for a pair of second-round draft picks in 2017 and 2018 and forward Raffi Torres, who will remain on loan to the AHL’s San Jose Barracudas.
Coupled with the Shawn Matthias trade to Colorado on Sunday, the Leafs shed three players who were on one-year contracts or in the final year of their deal.
More deals are expected before the Feb. 29 trade deadline. But the moves leave opportunities for prospects, illustrated by the fact 10 of the 20 players dressing for Tuesday’s home game against Nashville were in the minors at some point this season.
“The guys who left (veterans) were good people, that’s the people side of it. The business side of it? There’s an opportunity for these kids,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.
On one hand, the remaining veterans from this season must be nervous about the rash of moves over the past two days. Defenceman Jake Gardiner, considered a key cog in Toronto’s future, said Monday: “I can be traded . . . anybody can be traded at this point.”
P.A. Parenteau, another player on a one-year deal who has performed well of late, also sounded like he had one foot out the door.
On the other hand, however, Percy enters the equation with his first callup of the season. His should be a long look. The 22-year-old Oakville native earned a season-opening job on last season’s team but was sent down after nine games and has not been a part of the NHL picture until now. He’s also restricted free agent eligible in the summer, all of which underlines the need for him to show he is NHL ready.
“Maybe a bit, because I need to prove myself and they (Leafs) want to see that as well,” said Percy.
“But I compete for a contract at every level, no matter what level it is.”
Percy is one of several strong prospects with the Marlies, and the expectation now is for others — like William Nylander and Connor Brown — to get their shot before season’s end.
“We are not trying to weaken the Marlies,” Leafs GM Lou Lamoreillo said after Monday’s trade. “This has always been our thought process as far as (the rebuild process) and wanting to keep the (prospects) with the Marlies for the majority of the season.
“We could have brought other players here and been comfortable. When the time is right, you will see other people here.”
By unloading several veterans, Toronto has opened up more than $9 million in salary cap space. That makes them even more attractive to clubs who could include high picks if the Leafs take expensive, expiring contracts in return.
For Percy, all that matters is proving himself worthy of an NHL callup.
“We have such a good team there (Marlies.) You stick with what we’re trying to do with the Marlies, you try and get better as a player and hope to prove you can play at the NHL level,” Percy said.