The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has completed a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, acquiring the Penguins’ first round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft (15th overall), forward Evan Rodrigues, forward Filip Hallander and defenceman David Warsofsky in exchange for forward Kasperi Kapanen, forward Pontus Aberg and defenceman Jesper Lindgren.
Rodrigues, 27, has registered 72 points (27 goals, 45 assists) in 199 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and the Buffalo Sabres. The Toronto native recorded nine points in 38 games with Buffalo last season before a February 24 trade sent him to Pittsburgh, where he posted one goal in seven games with the Penguins. He originally signed with Buffalo as a free agent on April 22, 2015.
Hallander, 20, has recorded 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in two SHL seasons with Lulea HF (2019-20) and Timra IK (2018-19). Hallander played for Sweden at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and missed the 2020 tournament due to injury. The Sundsvall, Sweden native was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Warsofsky, 30, collected 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2019-20. Since being selected by St. Louis in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft, the Marshfield, Massachusetts native has registered 11 points in 55 career NHL games and 233 points in 454 career AHL games. He was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2016-17.
The Maple Leafs have acquired the Penguins' first round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft (15th overall), F Evan Rodrigues, F Filip Hallander and D David Warsofsky in exchange for F Kasperi Kapanen, F Pontus Aberg and D Jesper Lindgren. #LeafsForeverhttps://t.co/WRTQq4chd0
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 25, 2020
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford: "Kasperi is a good, young player that brings speed to our lineup and plays the way we want to play. Having previously drafted him, we know him as a player and feel he can improve our top-6."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 25, 2020
Official now. Honestly that's pretty impressive for the Leafs after giving the 13th overall pick to Carolina in the Marleau deal being able to go out and get the 15th overall pick at a reasonable price https://t.co/GoRtYNXaPX
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) August 25, 2020
The trade effectively boils down to Kapanen for a first-round pick and Hallander. I wonder if the Leafs even qualify Rodrigues at his salary.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 25, 2020
Details for Penguins:
RW Kasperi Kapanen
D Jesper Lindgren
LW Pontus AbergMaples Leafs getting:
2020 Rd 1 pick (15 overall)
LW Evan Rodrigues
C Filip Hallander
D David Warsofsky#Pens | @TheAthleticPGH | @TheAthleticNHLplease forgive any type
— Rob Rossi (@Real_RobRossi) August 25, 2020
That's a haul for Kapanen. Hallander is a solid prospect. Lindgren and Aberg fringe pieces for Leafs. https://t.co/KWdCFFLSoW
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 25, 2020
Kasperi Kapanen, who was traded as part of a package from the #Penguins to the #Leafs on July 1, 2015, has now been traded back to the team that drafted him.
Kapanen was selected 18th overall by Pittsburgh in 2014 draft.https://t.co/unQGg8bMb8 pic.twitter.com/joj3BR5e8H
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 25, 2020
The Kapanen trade clears $3.2M in cap space for the Toronto Maple #Leafs
We now have them projected for 2020-21 with $7.7M in cap space and a roster of 16 players (8F - 6D - 2G)https://t.co/BPt2vFET34
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 25, 2020