NHL trade grade: Avalanche and Maple Leafs both win Nazem Kadri-Tyson Barrie blockbuster
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche completed a blockbuster trade, swapping Nazem Kadri and Tyson Barrie among other pieces to fill both teams needs.
On a day meant to be for focusing on free agents, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche completed a blockbuster trade on Monday. The Maple Leafs send center Nazem Kadri, defensive prospect Calle Rosen and a 2020 third round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Tyson Barrie, winger Alexander Kerfoot and a 2020 sixth round pick.
The Avalanche are also retaining 50 percent of Tyson Barrie’s cap hit, leaving him with a $2,750,000 cap hit for the remainder of his contract which expires at the end of this upcoming season. Kerfoot is an RFA that could command upwards of $3M a season if he files for arbitration. The other main piece of the trade is Kadri going to Colorado, who is on an incredible value contract of $4.5M for three more seasons, including the upcoming season.
But who won the trade?
Toronto Maple Leafs trade grade: A
This is exactly the move that the Toronto market has craved for over a year now, as Toronto finally gets the top pair right-handed defenseman they’ve desperately needed. This is the first big example we’ve seen of Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas really getting creative in order to address their weaknesses.
Barrie is a very underrated right-handed defenseman and brings to the table exactly what the Maple Leafs need. With back to back 50-plus point seasons, the 27-year-old is just hitting his prime and will almost certainly slot in on the Maple Leafs top pairing, finally giving Morgan Reilly the proper partner he has desired for his entire career.
Not only are the Maple Leafs adding Barrie to address their defense, but they’re also getting a solid young winger in Kerfoot in the trade as well. Kerfoot has recorded back to back 40-plus point seasons in his first two NHL seasons and is known for his outstanding shot. He should fit in very well on the Maple Leafs third line if they hold onto him.
While the Maple Leafs would’ve probably would’ve preferred to not get rid of Kadri, something had to give in order to balance out their offense and defense. They absolutely needed a top pair right-handed defenseman, and there was no question that they had to pay the price with one of their core players on offense.
Colorado Avalanche trade grade: B+
The Avalanche also did very well in this trade with Toronto, fulfilling their top offseason priority in getting a proper second line center in Kadri. Outside of having on the best centers in the NHL in Nathan MacKinnon, there was quite literally nothing else that could properly fit that second line center position and Kadri is the perfect fit.
Kadri produced 161 goals and 357 points in 561 regular season games with Toronto, including back-to-back 30-goal seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Kadri, however, had a slightly down season last year and struggled with inconsistency early on with 44 points in 73 games, his worst production since 2012-13. Kadri’s temper is also well noted, as he has been suspended twice in the last two postseasons, arguably costing Toronto both times against the Boston Bruins.
“Kadri will immediately fit right in as our second-line centre and improve our scoring depth,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said in a statement. “Calle is a young defenseman with upside who has played in the AHL and has also seen some NHL time over the last two years.”
With Colorado getting the emergence of Samuel Girard and Cale Makar last season, along with drafting Bowen Byram fourth overall in last weeks NHL draft, it didn’t make much sense to hold onto Barrie for the remainder of his contract and risk losing him for nothing next season. To deal him and get the center they needed in Kadri in return is a great deal for them, but they could’ve done without retaining the full 50 percent of salary.
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However, this trade isn’t perfect for the Avalanche. Giving up Kerfoot, who is a valuable young offensive depth piece is a bit of a head-scratcher. If they couldn’t come to an agreement, then it makes a little sense, but I supposed locking down a third line center on a great deal is a reasonable price to pay.