Noted B’s trade target Tyler Toffoli traded to Canucks
Apr 2, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) reacts in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL hockey game at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Avalanche 3-1. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Vancouver Canucks pulled Tyler Toffoli out of Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney’s hip pocket and swung a trade for the 27-year-old winger on Monday night, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
Toffoli has been traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 18, 2020
In exchange for Toffoli, the Kings are reportedly getting ex-Bruins forward Tim Schaller (according to Bob McKenzie), prospect (and current Northeastern product) Tyler Madden, and a 2020 second-round draft pick from the Canucks. The Kings will also receive an additional draft choice from the Canucks should Toffoli, an unrestricted free agent at the year’s end, re-sign with Vancouver this offseason, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.
As alluded to, Vancouver’s swiping of Toffoli takes a noted B’s trade target off the board, and with a week to go before the NHL trade deadline. Given his status as a right-shot, right wing — as well as his theoretically more palatable price as a seemingly second-tier option on the trade market — Toffoli seemed like a natural fit for the Black and Gold’s second line.
Toffoli was also in the midst of a definite bounce back season with the Kings, with 21 goals and 34 points through 58 games, besting his 2018-19 goal total (13) and matching his 2018-19 point total in 24 fewer contests for Los Angeles.
The swing-and-miss for the Bruins comes just a day after the Lightning acquired Blake Coleman from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for 2019 first-round pick Nolan Foote and a conditional first-round pick. The Bruins, along with the Colorado Avalanche, were reportedly among those in talks with the Devils for Coleman before the Bolts pounced.
The Bruins still have some options on the board — New York’s Chris Kreider and the Blue Jackets’ Josh Anderson are two names that come to mind — but with a week to go until the deadline, Sweeney and Co. are officially on the clock.
