Toronto Maple Leafs
· 2026-07-02
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Dennis Hildeby and picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Nick Paul.
The move comes after a busy day of free agency signings for the Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs acquired Nick Paul, a 31-year-old center, in exchange for Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round pick, and a 2028 third-round pick.
Paul has three years remaining on his contract with a $3.15 million salary cap hit.
Paul has been an effective middle-six player for the Lightning, scoring seven goals and 15 points in 51 games last season.
In the two seasons prior, Paul recorded back-to-back 20-goal, 40-point campaigns.
The Maple Leafs are currently 15th in the Eastern Conference with a 32-36 record, on a L7 streak.
The addition of Paul bolsters the Maple Leafs' lineup, and they will look to turn their season around.
Dennis Hildeby, a promising young goaltender, was traded away, but the Maple Leafs have Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz in their NHL tandem.
The Maple Leafs will look to integrate Paul into their lineup and make a push for the playoffs.
The team's fans will be watching closely to see how Paul performs in his new role.
And with the trade, the Maple Leafs have shown they are committed to making moves to improve their team.
But the real test will be how the team performs on the ice.
So the Maple Leafs will look to Paul to make an immediate impact.
The trade is a significant one for the Maple Leafs, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.