Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche Complete Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche have swung a deal, swapping forwards, as the Leafs send 25-year-old Denis Malgin to Denver in exchange for 27-year-old Dryden Hunt. Both players are on expiring contracts. 

TRADE: We’ve acquired forward Dryden Hunt from Colorado in exchange for forward Denis Malgin. #LeafsForever

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 19, 2022

Hunt, a defensive forward, had registered just one goal in 25 games for the Avalanche, and was a minus-7. He has 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 193 career regular season games over his six seasons in the NHL. He joins his 3rd team of the season, staring the year with the New York Rangers before moving on to the Avs.

Malgin had also struggled to finish around the net, registering two goals and two assists in 23 games with the Leafs, in this his return to the NHL after playing in Switzerland for two seasons. 

Calle Jarnkrok returns to practice today for the Leafs. He takes the place of the traded Denis Malgin alongside John Tavares and Mitch Marner.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) December 19, 2022

Toronto will re-insert Calle Jarnkrok onto the John Tavares/Mitch Marner line where Malgin had been playing. 

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says Hunt will bring a different to the lineup: “A guy who plays hard. Pretty simple game. Physical. Competitive.”

 Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports