Trade season has returned.
As the NHL reaches the 20-game mark of its season, teams have now begun to seek out upgrades on their rosters as their flaws begin to materialize. The Toronto Maple Leafs got the action started early on Wednesday afternoon with a move of their own, acquiring defenseman Conor Timmins from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Curtis Douglas.
Injuries have limited Timmins to just eight games over the past two seasons after arriving in Arizona as a key piece in the trade that sent Darcy Kuemper to Colorado.
The 24-year-old was a very coveted defensive prospect once upon a time, however, exhibiting some intriguing skills in his arsenal whenever he happened to set foot on the ice. And given how the Maple Leafs are currently facing life without Morgan Rielly, Tj Brodie, and Jake Muzzin for the foreseeable future, Timmins could find himself in an NHL role sooner than otherwise expected, perhaps even getting the minutes that he was unable to find with the Coyotes.
At the very least, it’s a calculated bet on a skilled young player with little to no risk involved.
As for the Coyotes’ side of things, Curtis Douglas joins the fray as one of the taller players in their organization, standing at a whopping 6’9.
The 22-year-old signed an entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs last season and has yet been struggling mightily with their AHL affiliate so far in 2022-23, sitting with just one assist in 13 games. Douglas will almost certainly join the Tuscon Roadrunners upon his arrival in the Coyotes organization and provide them depth down the middle.
