The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday afternoon, sending Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick the other way. The deal gives Toronto a 31-year-old forward who put up 15 points in 51 games last season.
Nick Paul and Tampa Bay
Paul split his production into seven goals and eight assists last season, his fifth in Tampa. He arrived there in March of 2022 after beginning his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators.
That path matters here because Toronto did not buy a one-season flash. Paul was drafted in the fourth round in 2013 and made his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season, so the Leafs are adding a player with a longer league track record than a single scoring line suggests.
Dennis Hildeby to Tampa Bay
Hildeby leaves Toronto in the same transaction, along with two future draft picks. The Maple Leafs sent a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick to Tampa Bay, turning a goaltender and two distant selections into an experienced forward who can help immediately.
The trade came during Free Agent Frenzy, when Toronto was also busy elsewhere. On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs reached free agent deals with Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger and Jack Roslovic, and signed Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year deal.
For Toronto, the move fits a clear roster-building pattern: exchange future pieces for a player who has spent five seasons in Tampa and has already handled a full NHL career arc. For Tampa Bay, the return adds a goaltender plus two picks spread across 2027 and 2028, giving the club more room to reshape the roster beyond this week.
