NHL trade grades: Flames get a perfect fit in Tyler Toffoli, Canadiens start rebuild on the right track (original) (raw)

The trade

Flames get: Right winger Tyler Toffoli.

Canadiens get: First-round pick in 2022, fifth-round pick in 2023, forward Tyler Pitlick and forward prospect Emil Heineman.

The grades

Dom Luszczyszyn: In terms of fit, Tyler Toffoli feels perfect for the Flames: A hard-working scorer who can drive play and create chances on his own. Calgary’s biggest concern before this deal was its depth, especially in the bottom six. Although the top line has been magic this season, the team needed more help outside of them to alleviate some of the pressure. One-line teams don’t go deep and Toffoli’s addition makes the forward group much more formidable. He’s a third-line luxury who could help ignite Sean Monahan’s offence, or he’ll be on one of the top two lines – which will slide a talented player down. Either way, it’s a big win for the Flames as they acquired a player who provides top-line value at 2.1 projected wins. That he’s managed to still provide solid top six value on an awful Canadiens team speaks to his ability.

The one concern here is probably the price tag as a first, fifth and a prospect definitely feels a little steep at first blush, with Tyler Pitlick being mostly a throw-in. A first-round pick is a fantastic get for Montreal, which starts its rebuild on the right track by trading away a player who doesn’t fit the team’s timeline. But it’s not as pricey as it may seem. A first, a potentially low-first at that, is roughly the going rate for a rental top-six forward, but Toffoli has term with two years left on his deal after this season.

At $4.25 million per he’s a bargain for Calgary, giving the team plenty of surplus value for the next few years – which aligns perfectly with the team’s contention window. That’s easily worth a first, with the rest of the assets unlikely to mean much. This deal is a win-win, with both clubs getting exactly what they wanted and needed from the deal.

Calgary: A
Montreal: A

Sean Gentille: I was all set to give the Flames a middling grade here — sending out lots of assets for a second-tier forward, even one who’s had moments like Toffoli, isn’t the best recipe for success.

Honestly, though? I love this for Calgary, for a couple reasons. The biggest is that it happened at all. We’ve gotten accustomed to hearing that Brad Treliving was “in” on moves, and maybe even “close.” This time, the deal closed, and the Flames are better for it.

Toffoli is good. This season has been a bit of a mess for him, by virtue of playing for the Canadiens, but he’s a year out from 28 goals in 52 games. That’s a legit top-six winger — and for the Flames, he’s a sorely needed second- or third-line guy. The Johnny Gaudreau-Elias Lindholm-Matthew Tkachuk line can’t do it all themselves. They’ve come close enough, though, and they’re a big reason the Flames are a legit contender in a weak year for the Western Conference.

This is a season for them to identify needs, address them and try to win something big. Pick a lane, even if it’s temporary. Gaudreau’s future is uncertain. That means Tkachuk’s future is uncertain. That means the long-term future for the franchise is uncertain. We’ll see what happens with that over the next couple years.

In the meantime, Treliving recognized that he has a good team and tried to make it better. That’s no sure thing, and he deserves some measure of credit for pulling it off. The fact that he added a good player with term (signed through 2024, $4.25 AAV) despite a messy cap situation — his fault, but whatever — makes it a little more impressive. The fact that the only real asset it cost was a protected first-round pick? Yep, that’s a nice bit of business.

As for the Canadiens? That seems like the going rate for a nice player. Nothing spectacular. Toffoli isn’t Jack Eichel, so he doesn’t get the Jack Eichel package. Could be worse. Could also be better; outside the first-round pick, there’s nothing to get excited about.

Calgary: A
Montreal: B

Corey Pronman: The Habs used one of their main trade pieces to rebuild in Toffoli, who has term left to recoup some futures.

Emil Heineman was dealt last season in the Sam Bennett trade to Calgary from Florida. He’s a strong skater who can make some plays and can shoot the puck. He doesn’t have that much offensive skill though, and his compete level can be in and out as he can play too much on the perimeter at times. He has a chance to make it due to the toolkit but he’s not a sure thing and I wouldn’t characterize him as a top prospect now in the Habs system.

For me, the first-round pick is the major asset they get back as they begin the tough road ahead of rebuilding.

Toffoli’s skill, hockey sense and shot make him a useful offensive piece. His so-so skating limits him from being the guy who can drive a top-two line by himself, but for the Flames he can be a solid middle-six piece to complement an already strong offensive group at a reasonable cap hit.

Considering a useful rental top-six forward typically goes for about this rate, this is a solid deal for Calgary even if wingers aren’t typically as highly valued. According to _The Athletic_’s Pierre LeBrun, the Habs highly valued Heineman, but I don’t see it and haven’t seen it for a few years (and I said as much this time last year during the Bennett trade). Most scouts I talk to project him as a third- or fourth-line winger at best. I give a lower grade to Montreal considering that fact. If Heineman actually turns into a legit long-term top nine winger it would change the picture — but that’s not my current projection.

Calgary: A
Montreal: C+

(Photo: David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)