The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to add to their bottom-six blitz, adding veteran forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 4th-round pick, and a 2028 3rd-round pick. This move marks another by new General Manager Joh Chayka to beef up the bottom-six of the Leafs. The Lightning, meanwhile, free up cap room as they continue to try to add to their back-end after losing Darren Raddysh and the decline of Victor Hedman. Let’s dive into the Nick Paul trade.
TRADE: We’ve acquired forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 1, 2026
Nick Paul Trade Made Between Divisional Rivals
The Toronto Maple Leafs Reinvent Their Bottom-Six
The addition of Nick Paul is another in a slew of July 1st moves that have reinvented the forward group of the organization. Following the trade of Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins and losing Matias Maccelli to the New York Islanders, the Leafs made a group of moves, including signing forwards Jack Roslovic .and Colton Sissons to new deals. Moving out, Dennis Hildeby confirms that the Leafs will roll with a tandem of Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz this season.
Nick Paul, signed for three more years with an average annual value of $3.15million per year, will likely slot into the teams 3rd line this season. He scored seven goals and 15 points through 51 games in the 2025-26 season, while producing no points in six games against the Montreal Canadiens in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs are hoping he can return to form and invigorate a slumping forward group this season.
(Credit Image: © Daniel Lea/Cal Sport Media)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Clear Room
This move is also interesting from the perspective of the Tampa Bay Lightning. A team that was formerly a juggernaut and has struggled to compete in recent years, the Lightning have been front-runners in rumours for highly-sought after defencemen John Carlson and Zach Werenski. Freeing up another $3.15 million in cap space gives them $10.8 million in room, more than enough for Werenski’s current contract, or the rumoured ask from Carlson. Watch for Tampa Bay to continue making moves as they work to replace the production of Darren Raddysh and settle on a defensive leader this season.
Main photo by: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
