Leafs ship Matthew Lombardi to Coyotes

Cam Charron
January 16 2013 06:49PM

I think for those of us expecting a bigger trade, this one sorely disappoints. It does, however, clear up some issues for the Leafs' roster this Saturday, namely the team's logjam at centre.

As it happens, Toronto couldn't collect any assets for Matthew Lombardi. The pick is a 4th rounder in next year's draft, or a 3rd if Lombardi re-signs with the Coyotes or "meets certain stats". That's likely a games played threshold, given Lombardi's concussion issues in the last three seasons. It's not a salary dump, because the Leafs are loaded with cap space this season.

Unfortunately, Matthew Lombardi did not work out in Toronto, with 8 goals in 62 games. He did his job, though, as the Leafs paid him so Nashville wouldn't have to, and in return the Predators exchanged Brett Lebda for Cody Franson. With Franson re-signing, that deal looks a bit better now.

The Leafs are still overloaded down the middle, with Tyler Bozak, Mikhail Grabovski, David Steckel, Jay McClement, and Tim Connolly on the depth chart, all of them legitimate NHLers. One of them may have to slide over to wing.

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Cam Charron is BC-raised hockey fan and journalist and acts as the managing editor of The Leafs Nation. In his spare time, you can find him blogging about numbers at Canucks Army, discussing the juniors at Yahoo's Buzzing the Net, ranting in some way or another at the Score's Backhand Shelf, or acting as an MSM wannabe in the pages of the Vancouver Province.
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Reply #1 leafer123 January 16 2013, 08:06PM
+1 0 props

What a massive and important trade by Nonis to salvage the big Burke mistake by taking on Lombardi boat anchor roster stealing contract. This kind of methodical and difficult trade convinces me he is much superior GM to Burke and JFJ.

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Reply #2 sir_jamez January 16 2013, 11:11PM
+1 0 props

he did have that sweet goal vs Montreal, so we'll always have that...

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