Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Trade: Avs grab Shawn Matthias, Leafs bulk up for 2016 NHL draft

Canadiens Maple Leafs Hockey

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Shawn Matthias (23) drives around his net as Montreal Canadiens’ Tomas Plekanec (14) chases during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

AP

The Colorado Avalanche are scratching and clawing to try to make the playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs are just trying to load up for the future.

With that in mind, there’s no surprise that the two teams combined to further their efforts in both regards on Sunday.

Here’s the breakdown of the trade that just went down.

Avalanche receive: Forward Shawn Matthias

(Does this mean Joe Sakic has his “puck management forward?”)

Maple Leafs get: A fourth-round pick and Colin Smith.

The bigger picture is that Toronto’s really loading up for the 2016 NHL Draft. They also continue to make cap-friendly moves.

It wouldn’t be surprising if both teams made more moves along these lines as the trade deadline approaches on Feb. 29.

This might be Matthias’ best moment: