With training camp just around the corner, a mini-blockbuster trade has occured. The New York Islanders have traded forward Michael Grabner to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a five-player package which includes forwards Taylor Beck and Carter Verhaeghe, defencemen Matt Finn and Tom Nilsson, and goaltender Christopher Gibson.
Islanders Acquire Five Players for Grabner: http://t.co/2CJqNJIvwn #Isles pic.twitter.com/FYzzNo7gyD
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 17, 2015
The move makes sense for both teams.
Grabner (27) is coming to Toronto after five seasons with the Islanders. His first season in New York was his best, as the Austrian scored 34 goals in 2010-11, but injuries have slowed him down. He scored just eight goals in 34 games in 2014-15. The Maple Leafs can plug Grabner pretty much anywhere in their top-nine, and should he stay healthy – and that’s a big if – he should be good for 15-25 goals. Should the Leafs fall out of contention in 2015-16 like many expect they will, the club can flip the pending UFA for draft picks at the trade deadline.
Toronto continues their offseason trend of bringing in solid forwards who should help their possession game.
Trading five prospects also creates a trickle down effect in the organization. The Leafs now have the roster room to sign one of the many players they’ve invited to tryout contracts, without worrying about not having enough space, which was probably the biggest factor behind making this trade. Moving Gibson also means Garret Sparks, one of the ECHL’s best goalies last season with the Orlando Solar Bears, gets a shot at regular AHL duty behind Antoine Bibeau.
For the Islanders, this move clears Grabner’s $3 million cap hit (and $5 million salary) and helps them add depth to their organization, which is one of their weaknesses.
Common comment on my NYI farm rank was lack of depth (considered but they have several high-end prospects). This trade addresses that issue.
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) September 17, 2015
The prospects the Islanders acquired are a mixed bag, but they’re not exactly throw-ins either.
Finn had a tough first season of pro hockey, scoring five points in 36 games split between the Marlies and Solar Bears, but the 35th overall selection in 2012 is still just 21. Verhaeghe (20) scored 82 points in 68 games with the Niagara Ice Dogs, where he was a teammate with Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang. Nilsson (22) has had past success in Sweden, specifically with the national team during the 2013 World Juniors, and is coming off his first pro season, scoring 6 points in 44 games with the Marlies.
Gibson (22) appeared in 45 games with the Marlies last season, posting a strong 24-17-3 record with a 2.42 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Beck (24) is a fringe NHLer who scored 16 points with the Nasvhille last season, and should add depth to the club.
All of those players have upside, even if its not realized. None of them are likely to be future All-Stars, but even if only one or two of them pan out, this a great trade for New York. Replenishing their farm system at the price of one forward who was likely gone by the end of the year is a smart move by Islanders GM Garth Snow. On the flip side, I totally get it for Toronto as well. It’s a lot of prospects to give up for one player, but the Leafs can flip Grabner for more assets down the road while clearing roster spots for other players who can also be flipped, and keep hoarding more and more draft picks. This move works for both teams.