Fantasy Impact: The Maple Leafs have acquired defenseman Matt Lashoff from Tampa Bay for two prospects.

The Leafs Get: A big, mobile defenseman who hasn’t developed into the defenseman many had expected him to become. The Bruins took him with their first-round pick back in 2005, but he hasn’t cracked the NHL as a regular defenseman yet. In Toronto, he has to compete with eight other defensemen signed to one-way contracts, so the odds of making the starting six aren’t in his favour.

I really liked Lashoff as a deep sleeper pick in Tampa Bay because of how Guy Boucher utilizes his defensemen, and because of the immense talent that the Lightning possess up front. Toronto already has two very good offensive defensemen in Tomas Kaberle and Dion Phaneuf.

The Lightning Get: Cap relief, as the two prospects they acquired (forwards Alex Berry and Stefan Giliati) are both signed to two-way contracts. Lashoff will earn $550,000 this season, regardless of whether he plays in the NHL or the AHL. Neither prospect has any fantasy significance.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Lashoff, first and foremost. He obviously wasn’t in Tampa Bay’s long-term plans. He is currently the ninth defenseman on Toronto’s depth chart. The signing of Randy Jones a few days ago was the beginning of the end for Lashoff.

This helps Ty Wishart in his bid to make the Lightning out of camp. Tampa Bay’s top four is somewhat set with Mattias Ohlund, Pavel Kubina, Mike Lundin, and Victor Hedman. Brett Clark will play on the bottom pairing with one of Randy Jones, Wishart, or Matt Smaby in all likelihood.

Players this helps, in order:

1. Randy Jones

2. Ty Wishart

Players this hurts, in order:

1. Lashoff

Comments (3)

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David Lutz said:

	... This trade was simply opening a roster signing for the Leafs who were at the ceiling (50) and a salary dump for the lightening. All are long shot prospects at this point.
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August 30, 2010
Votes: +1

Mark McAuley said:

	... Burke should see if the Stars have any interest in Lashoff. Dallas needs to upgrade their defence corps and Lashoff is a young, cheap option with upside. Who knows, perhaps Burke could pry a forward away from Dallas? Steve Ott is the kind of player Burke loves and the Stars need the cap space to sign RFAs Neal and Niskanen.
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August 28, 2010
Votes: +0

Todd Dmitruk said:

	... great just what the leafs need another d-man, ugh what the heck is burke thinking? we need scoring!!
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August 27, 2010
Votes: -2