Flames Acquire Toffoli From Canadiens

by | Feb 14, 2022 | News, NHL, Rumors | 24 comments

In the first major deal before the March 21 trade deadline, the Calgary Flames acquired forward Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick (top-10 protected), a 2024 fifth-round pick, prospect Emil Heineman and veteran forward Tyler Pitlick.

Montreal Canadiens winger Tyler Toffoli (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames receive a versatile two-way forward in Toffoli. He played for Calgary head coach Darryl Sutter during their days with the Los Angeles Kings so it shouldn’t take him long to reacquaint himself with Sutter’s system. The Flames were seeking secondary scoring as they push to secure a playoff berth and he should fit the bill. Toffoli’s not a rental so he’ll benefit their offense beyond this season.

Toffoli’s $4.25 million leaves the Flames with $54.45 million in projected cap space for 2022-23 invested in 12 players. It’ll be interesting to see what effect his acquisition will have upon their efforts to re-sign restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk and unrestricted free agent winger Johnny Gaudreau, who will both seek significant raises after this season.

I confess being surprised by this move as I felt the Canadiens might prefer retaining Toffoli given his affordable contract. Most pundits expected defenseman Ben Chiarot to be the first Hab dealt before the trade deadline.

This move likely signals the start of a rebuild by Canadiens VP of Hockey Ops Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes. They now have two picks in the first round of this year’s draft, with their own potentially being first-overall if they win the draft lottery. Shedding Toffoli’s contract gives them $79.8 million invested in 10 players next season, though they’ll get $7.857 million in cap relief if necessary with Shea Weber on permanent long-term injury reserve.

Elite Prospects indicates Heineman, 20, is a 2020 second-round selection by the Florida Panthers who was dealt to the Flames last year in the Sam Bennett trade. He’s a speedy 6’1”, 185-pound two-way forward who can skate on either win. He has 11 goals and 16 points in 36 games this season with the Swedish Hockey League’s Leksands IF. 

Pitlick, 30, is a veteran checking-line forward and the cousin of Canadiens forward Rem Pitlick. He’s a UFA next summer and will likely be a short-term pickup for the Habs.







24 Comments

  1. Good deal for both teams! Calgary only spent one valuable asset for Toffoli, and Montreal got draft capital in a very deep draft. Pitlick can also fetch them another 4th or 5th.

  2. Agree a win win trade for both teams

  3. I like this trade seems fair for both teams.
    Toffoli will be a nice addition to play with Monahan.
    Flames will have 3 real solid lines that can all score.
    Plus this team is built for the playoffs big skilled and can play a heavy game.

    • I agree, this trade is good for both teams. I was hoping the Avalanche might consider Toffoli; however, it appears the Flames really wanted him. I can see why, he ‘s a goal scorer and improve their team come playoff time. Hopefully, the Avalanche have something else cooking for a trade? I’m still uncertain about Giroux, although, he’s great, I was thinking more along the lines of a Toffoli or another defenseman: Chiarot or Olesiak. GO AVS!!!!!!!!!

    • They may even have played on the same line while both were on that powerhouse 2011-12 Ottawa ’67s team in the OHL.

      • Will Toffoli lineup in the top 6 or on the 3rd line with his old buddy Monahan?

      • We’ll soon find out.

  4. Im in the minority, I dont like the trade. Yes they get Toffoli who is a good player and is on a fair/good contract, but what they really needed was a center. If the trade had been for Dvorak, who is on a similar deal, younger and a center, I would have been for it

    • @ Kent that was a fair trade for Toffoli. Good player with a good contract. Toffoli is a far better player than Dvorak and there’s no way he goes for a package anywhere near that. Montreal will be lucky just to recoup what they gave up for him. This is one of those rare trades where you can say it was fair for both teams.

      • Its not a bad trade, I just think they need a center more. Yes Dvorak hasn’t been good in Montreal but I think he would be his old self if he came to Calgary

  5. If all the experts are right and the Jackets will trade Laine at the TDL, this trade is excellent news for Columbus. If a 28 year-old second line forward can bring this return, the Jackets are going to get a tremendous haul for Laine.

    • @Paul except Toffoli has had better numbers then Laine the last couple years and is making way more money.

  6. exactly what does top 10 protected draft pick mean.

    • Simply that the pick is conditional on the sending team landing outside the top 10 in the upcoming draft.

  7. Had fun today. I did this about a Canadiens rebuild. Will have fun changing it as they go. Now that Toffoli is gone (was one of my favorites) I don’t care what they do with the other veterans. I know you have to keep some for a rebuild but just waiting to see what happens 🙂

    CANADIENS REBUILT

    FOWARDS
    NICK SUZUKI
    CAULE CAUFIELD
    JOSH ANDERSON
    SEAN FARRELL
    EMIL HEINEMAN
    JAN MYSAK
    RYAN POEHLING
    RILEY KIDNEY
    MICHAEL PEZZETTA
    REM PITLICK
    JAKE EVANS

    DEFENSEMEN
    KAIDEN GUHLE
    LOGAN MAILLOUX
    MATTIAS NORLINDER
    ALEXANDER ROMANOV
    JORDAN HARRIS

    GOALIES
    CAYDEN PRIMEAU
    JAKOB DUBES

    2022 PICKS
    1 -MTL, CAL,
    2-MTL
    3 -MTL, ANA, CAR
    4- MTL, TB
    5-MTL
    6-MTL
    7-MTL, STL,PHI,ARZ

    AVAILABLE FOR TRADES : PETRY, DROUIN, CHIAROT, DVORAK, GALLAGHER, HOFFMAN, ARMIA, LEHKONEN, EDMUNDSON, BYRON, SAVARD.

    RETRAITE/RETIREMENT ? : PRICE,WEBER

    AUTRES/OTHERS: WIDEMAN, NIKU, YLONEN, CLAGUE.

    • Mike you should be the assistant GM….!

      I dont think they will trade all those guys this year, but i can see 4 or 5 going for sure on your list for picks or a very good prospect and one of the two top goaltenders..!

      • Ahahaha I don’t think Kent Hugues would agree with that

    • I hope Drouin goes, tired of hoping this is the year, all while Sergachev has been having success

      • Amen!

  8. This could be so they can retain salary on a trade for Petry. To who no clue but if it’s someone up against the cap I could see that happen. Hopefully not Boston

  9. Hope the rest of the NHL GM’s are watching….
    To many GM’s are scared to make trades these days
    This trade is Win Win for both teams Habs,
    I would say they are getting ready to rebuild….? They could end up with 3-4 1st round picks this year and some good young prospects to speed up the re-build…?
    Price next…..

  10. Hope the rest of the NHL GM’s are watching….
    To many GM’s are scared to make trades these days
    This trade is Win for both teams Habs,
    I would say they are getting ready to rebuild….? They could end up with 3-4 1st round picks this year and some good young prospects to speed up the re-build…?
    Price next…..

  11. An interesting trade. I don’t care about either of these teams but they both seem to get something decent out of it. I think this was more about jump-starting Monohan. We shall see. I think they’ll let Johny Hockey go.

  12. Heineman was a 2nd round pick of the Panthers and went to Calgary in the Bennett trade.