Maple Leafs Acquire Mark Fraser from Ducks for Dale Mitchell

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have acquired defenseman Mark Fraser from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right wing Dale Mitchell. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. Fraser was acquired by the Ducks from the New Jersey Devils this past December in the Kurtis Foster trade. He appeared in four games with the Devils, scoring no points. He also appeared in 25 games with Syracuse of the AHL, scoring five assists. Mitchell played in two games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring no points. He also appeared in 35 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth trade for both teams, as Fraser and Micthell will likely spend the remainder of the season in the minors. Although, the Maple Leafs added a similarly skilled player in Fraser after trading Keith Aulie earlier in the day, so he may have a future with the team. He has good size, some mobility, and still some defensive upside despite struggling at the NHL level in recent years, so the change of scenery may help him out.

Lightning Acquire Keith Aulie from Maple Leafs for Carter Ashton

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defenseman Keith Aulie from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Carter Ashton. Aulie is eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Ashton still has two more years left on his entry-level deal. In 17 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Aulie had two assists. He also appeared in 23 games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring one assist. In 56 games with Norfolk of the AHL, Ashton has 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is clearly a trade for the future for both Toronto and Tampa Bay. Aulie will bring plenty of shutdown skills and physical play to the Lightning blueline. He should be an excellent addition to the team as they look to rebuild their defense. Ashton has great size, lots of offensive potential, and is versatile enough to play on both wings. He should be a decent top-six forward for the Maple Leafs down the road.

Blue Jackets Claim Darryl Boyce Off Waivers from Maple Leafs

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Saturday that they have claimed center Darryl Boyce off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 17 games with the Maple Leafs, he had one goal and one assist. He also appeared in 22 games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring four goals and six assists for 10 points. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. With Jeff Carter and Antoine Vermette now playing elsewhere, the Blue Jackets were in need of depth at center and they got that in Boyce. He's a hard worker on the ice, plays with a little grit, and has some defensive skill. However, Boyce won't replace the offensive output of either Carter or Vermette and will likely play a bottom-six role for the remainder of the season.

Maple Leafs Sign John-Michael Liles to Four-Year Extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that they have signed defenseman John-Michael Liles to a four-year contract extension worth $15.5 million. The deal will average out to $3.875 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 34 games this season, Liles has four goals and 17 assists for 21 points. He is currently on injured reserve with a concussion. This is a decent signing for the Maple Leafs, as Liles was having a fine year with the club until being sidelined with the concussion. He brings lots of offensive skill and mobility to the team's blueline, as well as plenty of talent to the power play. Look for him to continue to be a good fit on Toronto's defense for the duration of the contract.

Ducks Acquire Luca Caputi from Maple Leafs for Nicolas Deschamps

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have acquired left wing Luca Caputi from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for left wing Nicolas Deschamps. In 21 games this season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, Caputi has two goals and one assist for three points. Deschamps has five goals and two assists for seven points in 31 games with Syracuse of the AHL. Not a bad depth move for both teams, as both players do have some offensive upside and the potential to crack an NHL lineup. However, both players have struggled quite a bit offensively in the minors this season, so a change of scenery might help both Caputi and Deschamps get their offensive games back on track.

Maple Leafs Acquire David Steckel from Devils

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have acquired center David Steckel from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He still has two years left on his current contract. In 75 games last season with the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils, he had six goals and six assists for 12 points. Not a bad depth move for the Maple Leafs, as Steckel will bring loads of experience and talent to the faceoff, as well as plenty of size and skill to the penalty kill. With Tim Connolly and Mikhail Grabovski currently sidelined with injuries, Steckel adds some much needed depth at center for Toronto, but it's just a short-term fix, as both players shouldn't miss much time. Once they return, look for Steckel to play on the fourth line. For the Devils, this move presents an opportunity for players like Brad Mills, Adam Henrique, Mattias Tedenby, and Cam Janssen to make the opening night roster.

Maple Leafs Re-Sign Matt Lashoff

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Matt Lashoff to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 11 games last season with the Maple Leafs, he had one assist. He also appeared in 69 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points and 137 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Maple Leafs, as Lashoff brings plenty of mobility to the blueline, as well as some offensive upside and grit. More than likely, he will spend much of next season in the minors and will probably only see NHL action as an injury replacement.

Maple Leafs Sign Philippe Dupuis to One-Year Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have signed center Philippe Dupuis to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level. In 74 games last season with the Colorado Avalanche, he had six goals and 11 assists for 17 points. This is an okay signing for the Maple Leafs, as Dupuis will bring some defensive skill to the forward lines. He doesn't have enough offensive ability to land a top-six role with the team and may have to battle for a fourth line role for the 2011-12 season at training camp.

Maple Leafs Re-Sign Clarke MacArthur and Tyler Bozak

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have re-signed left wing Clarke MacArthur to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million and center Tyler Bozak to a two-year contract worth $3 million. MacArthur's deal will pay him $3.25 million per season, while Bozak's deal will net him $1.5 million per year. In all 82 games last season, MacArthur had 21 goals and 41 assists for 62 points, while Bozak had 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 82 games. These are decent signings for the Maple Leafs, as both players bring plenty of offensive depth to the forward lines. MacArthur is a versatile forward with some offensive skill, plenty of speed, goal-scoring ability, and some skill on the power play. He was given a short-term contract because he has had only one productive season at the NHL level, so look for him to work hard in 2011-12 to continue to improve his game to prove he is a capable top-six forward worthy of a future long-term deal. Bozak has plenty of two-way skill and some offensive instincts, so look for him to center the third line next season in Toronto.

Maple Leafs Re-Sign Ryan Hamilton and Greg Scott

According to thehockeynews.com, the Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed left wing Ryan Hamilton to a one-year contract and right wing Greg Scott to a two-year contract. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. In 45 games last season with Toronto of the AHL, Hamilton had 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points, while Scott had 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points with the Marlies. Both players have yet to play in an NHL game. These are really just depth signings for the Maple Leafs, as both players will likely spend all of next season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.

Maple Leafs Acquire Lombardi, Franson from Predators

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have acquired center Matthew Lombardi and defenseman Cody Franson from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Brett Lebda and left wing Robert Slaney. A fourth round pick in 2013 was also included in the deal, which one of the teams will receive based on how many games Lombardi plays in for the Maple Leafs. Lombardi missed the majority of the 2010-11 season with a concussion and appeared in only two games with the Predators, scoring no points. Franson appeared in 80 games with Nashville last season, scoring eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points. In 41 games last season with the Maple Leafs, Lebda had one goal and three assists for four points. Slaney played in nine games with Toronto of the AHL in 2010-11, scoring one assist. He also appeared in 61 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points. Provided Lombardi fully recovers from the concussion, this is an excellent trade for the Maple Leafs. He will bring lots of speed, two-way skill, and scoring depth to the forward lines. In Franson, Toronto gets a young defender with plenty of offensive upside and excellent skills on the power play. He will likely see plenty of ice time with the Maple Leafs next season. As for the Predators, this is a salary dumping move, as they have freed up $2.2 million. The financial flexibility will help in their efforts to re-sign defenseman Shea Weber. Lebda brings some mobility and offensive ability to the blueline, but likely won't see much ice-time next season. Slaney will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Maple Leafs Sign Tim Connolly to Two-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have signed center Tim Connolly to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million. The deal will pay him $5.5 million in the first year and $4 million in the second year. In 68 games last season with the Buffalo Sabres, he had 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points. This is a decent signing for the Maple Leafs, as Connolly will bring lots of offensive skill and veteran depth to their forward lines. He's also an excellent stickhandler and great on the power play. However, he has a history of injury problems which often times hamper his offensive production. If he can stay healthy, Connolly should be a decent offensive contributor for the team throughout the duration of the contract.

Maple Leafs Sign Ben Scrivens to One-Year Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that they have re-signed goaltender Ben Scrivens to a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 33 games last season with Toronto of the AHL, he posted a 13-12-5 record, two shutouts, a 2.33 GAA, and a .924 save percentage. He also appeared in 13 games with Reading of the ECHL, posting a 10-3-0 record, with a 2.23 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Not a bad depth signing for the Maple Leafs, as Scrivens has plenty of upside to become a regular NHL goaltender one day. More than likely, he will spend the entire 2011-12 season in the minors.

Maple Leafs Sign Jay Rosehill to One-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that they have signed left wing Jay Rosehill to a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000. He would have been eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency on July 1. In 26 games last season with the Maple Leafs, he had one goal and two assists for three points and 71 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 32 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring seven goals and six assists for 13 points and 114 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Maple Leafs, but not a horrible one. Rosehill will likely spend some of next season in the minors, but if he sees any NHL action, he will bring lots of grit and toughness to the checking lines.

Maple Leafs Sign Luca Caputi to One-Year Extension

According to thehockeynews.com, the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed left wing Luca Caputi to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In seven games last season with the Maple Leafs, he had no points. He also appeared in 13 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. Not a bad depth signing for the Maple Leafs, as Caputi has lots of offensive upside. He will likely battle hard for a roster spot on the team next season at training camp in September.

Maple Leafs Acquire John-Michael Liles from Avalanche

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday evening during the first round of the 2011 Entry Draft that they have acquired defenseman John-Michael Liles from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. The second rounder heading to Colorado is Boston's second round pick, which the Maple Leafs acquired in the Tomas Kaberle trade this past February. In 76 games last season, Liles had six goals and 40 assists for 46 points. In 523 career NHL games, all with Colorado, he has 68 goals and 207 assists for 275 points. He still has one more year left on his current contract. Not a bad move for the Maple Leafs, as Liles will bring lots of offensive skill to their blueline. He will also bring plenty of skill to the power play and some mobility to their defense. Despite being a bit inconsistent in his scoring, he should be a good fit for Toronto.

Maple Leafs Sign Carl Gunnarsson to Two-Year Extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have signed defenseman Carl Gunnarsson to a two-year contract extension worth $2.65 million. The deal averages out to $1.325 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 68 games this past season, he had four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. This is a decent signing for the Maple Leafs, as Gunnarsson is one of the team's more promising young defensemen. He's a decent puck-mover who has some offensive upside, so he will likely fill a top-four defensive role for the team over the next couple of seasons.

Maple Leafs Sign James Reimer to Three-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that they have signed goaltender James Reimer to a three-year contract extension worth $5.4 million. The deal averages out to $1.8 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 37 games this past season, Reimer posted a 20-10-5 record, three shutouts, a 2.60 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. He also appeared in 15 games with Toronto of the AHL, posting a 9-5-1 record, three shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a .920 save percentage. This is a good signing for the Maple Leafs, as Reimer was very impressive in goal after being recalled from the minors this past January. He has good size and has the skills to play either a starting or backup role. More than likely, he will start next season splitting the goaltending duties with Jonas Gustavsson and could be elevated to the starter's role if he can outplay the Swedish netminder or if he misses time because of an injury.

Fredrik Modin Announces His Retirement

According to thehockeynews.com and tsn.ca, Calgary Flames' left wing Fredrik Modin has decided to retire from hockey. He has missed much of the last four seasons due to various injuries. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 40 games this past season with the Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames, he had seven goals and three assists for 10 points. In 898 career NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, and Calgary Flames, he has 232 goals and 230 assists for 462 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2004 as a member of the Lightning and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2006 as a member of Team Sweden. Modin was always an excellent two-way player throughout his career and a good complementary winger to other skilled forwards. It's a shame to see a rash of injuries bring his career to a close and I wish him all the best in retirement.

NY Rangers Acquire John Mitchell from Maple Leafs

The New York Rangers announced today that they have acquired center John Mitchell from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Mitchell will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 23 games this season with the Maple Leafs, he has two goals and one assist for three points. He has also appeared in nine games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. Not a bad depth move for the Rangers, as Mitchell will bring some versatility to the checking lines and skill to the power play and penalty kill. Right now, he is in the minors, so it's possible he could be called up before the end of the season. Mitchell never fit in well with the Maple Leafs, so a new start with the Rangers could help him get his NHL career back on track.