The Wheels come off in Toronto - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

devo22 · 03-23-2016, 07:51 AM

There have been rumblings in Toronto over the past days and weeks that the GM is actively trying to make big trades and "blow it up". While trading pending UFA Jiri Hudler for draft picks was seen as a normal seller's move ahead of the deadline, the insiders finally got confirmation of their suspicions when the Leafs traded another one of their topscorera for futures.

To Buffalo
F Blake Wheeler
2016 3rd round pick (TB)
cheese

To Toronto
F Jake DeBrusk
D Jake Walman
2016 2nd round pick (WSH)
2017 1st round pick (TOR)

Trading a top winger in Wheeler wadn't any easy decision, but we really liked that package. Gives us flexibility going forward and a few nice assets to play with. The two Jakes are solid prospects, the WSH 2nd will probably be 31st overall and getting our own 2017 1st back helps too.

Expect more moves soon.

Thanks to SportsJunky for the talks! Dude is an active GM with a plan who isn't scared of making big deal.

simmer2 · 03-23-2016, 09:02 AM

To be honest, I prefer the package for Buffalo but understand why the Leafs made the move.

Big guys are expensive and in the coming off-season with salary cap challenges, it makes sense to get ahead of it.

Nice work gents!

JiriHrdina · 03-23-2016, 09:41 AM

Wheeler is criminally under-rated but that is a nice package. No sure thing but Walman to me is a steal. Buffalo adds a true front line forward.

Pierre "Monster" McGuire · 03-23-2016, 11:49 AM

Wheeler's such a good player. Buffalo got a good one.

I don't know what to think of Devo's "Jake" fetish, but it's kind of creepy

SportsJunky got one of the best players in SIM, but I like this deal for Devo only because Debrusk is a solid prospect, plus those picks will be nice and high.

Drury18 · 03-23-2016, 12:47 PM

I really like this deal for Toronto.

Wheeler might be underrated but Toronto has far more options to work with now and some better and more tradeable assets to build back his team. He's active enough to pull it off too.

devo22 · 03-23-2016, 01:06 PM

Not even sure I'd agree that Wheeler's underrated ... at least I didn't get this feeling when I looked at the offers I got. GMs weren't scared to throw 1sts on the table, that's for sure. Ultimately SJ pushed the hardest.

SportsJunky · 03-23-2016, 02:27 PM

I did push hard on this deal. I hated to give up the assets that I did but I badly needed a top line guy and Wheeler is a monster. The fact that he is signed for a couple of more years helps.

I've given up a lot of my picks and prospects in recent weeks to try to set up Buffalo as a playoff team come next season. We shall see.

Thanks devo for working quickly with me on this deal. I wanted to get as many games with Wheeler as possible this year to see how he's going to fit with his linemates.