Toronto Bought a Draft Pick

So with the NHL trade deadline behind us, I can't help but dig a little deeper into the Toronto/Tampa Bay trade. To recap;

Toronto gets;

• Olaf Kolzig
• Jamie Heward
• Andy Rogers
• 4th Round Pick

Tampa Bay gets;

• Richard Petiot

Now despite the numbers being lopsided, and the fact half the hockey world had to look up the name Richard Petiot, this trade is very impressive for both teams. Both Kolzig and Heward suffered season ending injuries this year, and both have contracts that expire after this season. I doubt either of these players will ever wear the blue and white. Rogers and Petiot are both career minor players who don't appear to have a future in the NHL. Therefore, this means is that Toronto will pay the remaining tab for Kolzig & Heward (roughly $450,000) in exchange for a 4th round pick from the Lightning. Due to salary cap limitations & hockey markets, Toronto is the pinnacle of hockey markets and had money to spend where as Tampa is one of the weaker hockey markets, and could really benefit from such a cap relief.

It is this fact that allowed the Leafs to essentially purchase a 4th round pick for approx. $450,000.