The Maple Leafs just snagged Nick Paul on free agent day, coughing up Dennis Hildeby and two draft picks in the deal. This is a big swing, locking up a forward who’s already in year five of a seven-year, $3.15 million AAV contract originally signed with Tampa Bay. Paul, who’ll be 34 when that deal wraps, is one of just two new forwards Toronto brought in with more than two years left on their contract.
The Long Road to Toronto, And the Big Money
This dude’s been around. Drafted 101st overall by Dallas way back in 2013, Paul’s journey has been a winding one. Dallas shipped his rights to Ottawa a year later as part of the Jason Spezza trade. He then spent five astonishing years splitting time between the NHL and AHL, only really finding consistent NHL ice time when DJ Smith took over coaching the Senators in 2019. His first full NHL season finally came in the truncated 2020-2021 year. Ottawa later traded him to Tampa Bay for Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick, even retaining salary. That deadline deal felt like a steal for the Lightning at the time, and Paul delivered in Tampa, turning into a solid 20-goal, middle-six center when he finally played full seasons.
The Injury Saga That Has Everyone Talking
But here’s the thing that’s gotta make Leafs fans sweat a little: this past season was a nightmare for Paul on the injury front. He started late because of wrist surgery, an ailment they’d tried to avoid. That wrist issue apparently messed with his shooting during the 2024-2025 season, and it wasn’t getting better with just rest or even that trendy PRP therapy. Paul did report his wrist was fully healed this summer before the trade. But once he got back in the lineup last November, he kept hitting the IR with various illnesses and a lower-body injury right before the Olympic break. He came back late in the season and even played in the playoffs, but was mostly stuck on the fourth line. He usually averages 17 minutes a game, but last season that dropped to 14. Tampa had him as their number six forward, playing second or third line and sometimes on the second power play unit. He’s a versatile forward, good on faceoffs (over 50% career), and NHL Edge says he’s an above average skater without being a burner. His advanced stats show he’s not a skilled finisher, focusing on volume and net-front shots, but his defensive impacts are considered significant, propping up his low-end top-six winger ability, even last season.
So, the question now is, can Paul get back to that solid 20-goal form for Toronto, or will these injury woes keep him grounded? The Leafs are clearly betting big on a healthy rebound.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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