The Leafs trade adding Wayne Primeau and a second round pick for Stralman, Stuart and a seventh round is a solid trade that begins to clear a bit of the log jam on the backend.
The biggest part of the trade is the Leafs sending Stralman to Calgary in return for their 2nd round draft choice next year. With this summer’s additions Stralman was the 9th or 10th defenseman on the depth chart so he was not going to see much time with the big club. At 22, I still like his offensive potential but he was not part of the long term plans. Picking up a 2nd round pick for him is a good move and it replaces the 2nd round pick that Toronto sent to Montreal for Grabovski.
Up front Toronto sends Stuart and their 7th round pick in 2011 to Calgary for Primeau. In flipping Primeau for Stuart the Leafs add size, experience and flexibility. At 6’4, 225 he has the size that Burke likes and he can either center the checking line or move over to left wing to add size and grit where needed as the season moves on. Primeau is also a strong penalty killer so that helps the team improve in an area that was a big concern last year. It also helps that he has experience playing for Wilson and is looking forward to working for him again.
With the youth that Toronto is working into their lineup a player like Primeau makes quite a bit of sense. He will be good in the dressing room and he can mix into any line that needs added size from time to time. The deal works long term as well since he is on the last year of his contract. Should he remain healthy and have a solid year he may well be an attractive commodity for Burke to move to a contenting team at the trade deadline if the Leafs are sellers. If he is not moved, he joins the long list of Leaf forwards with expiring contracts giving the team flexibility at the end of the year.
Burke would still like to move one of his defensemen to get down to eight. By moving Stralman I see the Leafs holding on to White for his offense.
The deal was minor, but it works for the Leafs on several levels.
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Great pick up that re-affirms that Burke is doing what he said he would, picking up more immediate draft picks and toughening up the team while balancing the inevitable increased penalty minutes with a good penalty killer.
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