The Toronto Maple Leafs made room for Willam Nylander to re-join the team by trading forward Josh Leivo to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Michael Carcone.
Leivo, who signed a one-year, $925,000 contract extension last season, was promised that if he fell out of the lineup with limited opportunity to get back in, he would be moved to a more favorable situation, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
TOR promised Leivo when signed that if he were to fall out of lineup with limited opportunity to get back in, they would move him to a more favourable situation. https://t.co/Z5Vuh7ho47
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 3, 2018
Following Nylander's six-year contract agreement on Saturday, the Maple Leafs had to move someone to make room and instead of losing Leivo on the waiver wire, they were able to swing a deal.
The 25-year-old had four goals and six points this season to go along with 14 goals and 28 points in 84 career games. He is eligible for restricted free agency at the end of the year and should see more playing time in Vancouver.
We’ve lost a lot of good men to trades & free agency but I’ve never lost a brother before like @jleivo17
— Garret Sparks (@GSparks40) December 3, 2018
Will never forget our first rookie tourney together & every memory made in between
Best of luck with @Canucks hope the grass is greener out west LJ #Shooter pic.twitter.com/7IIvNQuxHB
Carcone, who is expected to be assigned to the Toronto Marlies, had six goals and 17 points in 20 games for Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. The Canucks signed the Ajax, Ont. native as a free agent in 2016 after he played two seasons in the QMJHL for Drummondville.
The Maple Leafs also recalled defenseman Travis Dermott after he was sent down to the Marlies on a temporary basis Sunday.