The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired F Alex Galchenyuk from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for F Egor Korshkov and D David Warsofsky.
It was clear from the start that the Hurricanes didn\’t really want Galchenyuk after acquiring him from the Senators on Saturday. He was placed on waivers yesterday, and now traded today. The team now takes a gamble a little bit bigger than Galchenyuk with this trade. The main asset is Korshskov, who was the first pick of the 2nd round in 2016. He spent 2019-20 in the AHL, before making his NHL debut, scoring a goal. For now, that is his only NHL game. Korshkov returned to the KHL this year, and his sixth season there is already his best. It is unclear when, or if Korshkov will come back to North America. Warsofsky is a veteran AHL defenseman who has some NHL experience. His involvement in this trade is purely to benefit the Chicago Wolves.
Korshkov, 24, has scored 16 goals with 15 assists for 31 points in 53 games for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL this year. For the AHL\’s Toronto Marlies in 2019-20 Korshkov scored 16 goals with nine assists for 25 points in 44 games.
Warsofsky, 30, scored 10 goals with 23 assists for 33 points in 51 games for the AHL\’s Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins in 2019-20. In his NHL career for the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins Warsofsky has scored two goals with nine assists for 11 points in 55 games.
While trading two guys for a slumping player who just cleared waivers seems like a bad idea, the Leafs might end up giving nothing away here. Warsofsky was acquired in the offseason in the Kasperi Kapanen trade, and his value is next to nothing. Korshkov is not going to be playing for them anytime soon, and there is a slim chance that he will turn into much if he comes back to the NHL. Galchenyuk can now be sent freely to and from the taxi squad. He is a much better fourth line option than Scott Sabourin, another former Senator who was promoted to the active roster. Galchenyuk has had success before, but his bridge to prominence has burned.
Galchenyuk, 27, had just one point, a goal, in eight games as a Senator this year. In his NHL career with Ottawa, the Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild Galchenyuk has scored 136 goals with 185 assists for 321 points in 557 games.
CarterHud 