Trades of the Toronto Maple Leafs Quiz

Answer: Owen Nolan

Even though Nolan had a productive year and a half in Toronto, it ended badly when Toronto tried not to pay his salary during the lockout year despite his claims he was injured and misdiagnosed by Toronto's Doctor prior to the lockout. In hindsight, keeping Boyes could've been better as he was traded again to Boston where he had a breakout 69 point season and followed that two seasons later with a 43 goal season.

Answer: Jean-Sebastian Giguere

Giguere made a great first impression by posting shutouts his first two games in a Toronto uniform, and overall played quality minutes with good results, although the team still didn't make the playoffs during his tenure there.

Answer: Wade Belak

Wade Belak was known as an enforcer but many are surprised to know he was actually a 1st round draft pick back in 1994. He was a useful player due to his ability to easily shift from playing winger to defenseman. After his tenure in Florida he signed with Nashville where he eventually retired and joined their broadcast team. In 2011 he died of apparent suicide. May he rest in peace.

Answer: Andrew Raycroft

Boston had no intention of re-signing Raycroft who was a going to become RFA. After hearing of Toronto's interest in him they quickly re-signed him and traded him for Rask, who has since proven to be a young all-star. Toronto's logic for trading him away was that they already had one top goalie prospect in their system (Justin Pogge) and that you can't successfully raise two top goalie prospects.

In hindsight they decided to bet on the wrong goalie as Pogge never made a NHL career for himself. Even more stinging is the fact that if Toronto just waited a few months longer they could've signed Raycroft without having to give up anything in return.

Answer: Stuart Percy, Josh Leivo

Percy was drafted late in the 1st round and Josh Leivo was a 3rd round choice who has been compared to Joffrey Lupul.

Answer: Dmitri Yushkevich

Dmitri Yushkevich was acquired by the Leafs from Philadelphia with a 2nd round pick for a 1st, 2nd, and 4th round pick. Yushkevich ended up becoming a solid two-way defenseman who had a penchant for delivering big hits. Toronto was successful in signing Svehla and he quickly made Toronto fans forget about Yushkevich by playing a solid two-way game, earning 40+ points, and leading the league in hits his first season with the Leafs. Unfortunately after that season he suddenly retired.

Answer: Keith Aulie

Aulie was a towering 6 feet, 6 inches and played a purely defensive role. Upon his trade to Toronto he played top 4 minutes as Phaneuf's defensive minded partner. Ultimately he lost his spot and was eventually traded (in Feb 2012) to Tampa Bay for Carter Ashton, a 1st round draft pick who wasn't turning out as hoped for them.

Answer: Ron Francis

Francis was an all-star drafted by Carolina (at that time they were the Hartford Whalers) and spent many of his years with that team. They were clearly out of the playoff hunt in 2004 and gave him an opportunity to compete for a last cup during what was well rumoured to be his final season.

Answer: Darcy Tucker

Tucker played a solid top 6 role as a complimentary winger who can score, fight, agitate, and play an energy role. Eventually he left the team as a free agent (in 2008 to Colorado Avalanche) but at that point he was in decline.

Answer: Fabian Brunnstrom

Fabian Brunnstrom came to the NHL via the undrafted free agent route, the same as how Toronto ended up getting Jonas Gustavsson. Considered at the time to be the best player outside the NHL he managed to garner a bidding war for his services. Competing teams included Dallas, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Detroit. Ultimately Dallas won and in his first game with that team Brunnstrom scored a hat-trick, creating sky-high expectations for him.

However, he quickly fizzled and was relegated to the Texas Stars, which is the Dallas-affiliated AHL team, and then swapped to Toronto for another minor leaguer.