Dubas waits until Canada is watching soccer to trade for Conor Timmins

In what seemed like an inevitable move, the Leafs have acquired former Soo Greyhound Conor Timmins in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes today.

So let’s start with what the Leafs are giving up here, and that’s Curtis Douglas. Douglas is a giant pugilist center that doesn’t really have the speed for the game at the NHL level and having to only give him up for Conor Timmins should be seen as nothing but a win. If you want to go the lazy narrative route, I’m sure there are people out there who will call him the next Mason Marchment. Let them do that, but they are wrong.

As for what the Leafs are getting with Conor Timmins (please note the one “N” in C-O-N-O-R), Toronto is getting a right shot defenseman who has always looked promising, but has had an unfortunate run of injuries throughout his career.

Dating back to his last year in junior, Timmins has topped out at 45 games in a season, or 42 games being his best professional year. He completely missed the 2018-19 season, and was limited to six games last year. Health will be an issue, but when Timmins is in the lineup he’s a worthwhile player.

Timmins joins Sandin, Muzzin, and Hollowell as the Soo alumni on the blueline. Conor was Rasmus Sandin’s defensive partner, so it’s quite possible that becomes the Leafs third pairing and Liljegren could see work with Giordano saving Leafs fans from Justin Holl on the top pairing.

Timmins was on a conditioning stint to Tucson that ended today, so he was going to be returned to the Coyotes, that means the Leafs will need to waive him down to the Marlies, so expect him to stay with the Leafs. That’s part of the reason why it was important to get Wayne Simmonds off the roster.