Breaking: The Maple Leafs have traded Josh Leivo.

We suspected this one was coming and it is now official.

According to an official report from the Toronto Maple Leafs the organization has traded journeyman forward Josh Leivo to the Vancouver Canucks organization. In exchange the Leafs have announced that they will be receiving career American Hockey League forward Michael Carcone back from the Canucks organization. 

Leivo had appeared in 27 games for the Leafs this season while playing in limited minutes. Through those games he recorded 4 goals and 2 assists for a total of 6 points, adding 6 penalty minutes and boasting a plus minus rating of +1 on the season thus far. Leivo has reportedly long since been frustrated with his limited opportunities on the Leafs roster so this move likely comes as a relief for the player and also gets rid of what was likely becoming a headache for the Leafs in the process.

Now I must admit that I do not know all that much about Carcone, an undrafted 22 year old winger who has never appeared in a single NHL game, but this move appears to be designed entirely to vacate a roster spot for the Maple Leafs. It's possible that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas sees something special in Carcone but it seems far more likely to me that this deal was designed to allow him to get a player that he will not have to place on waivers.

Carcone has appeared in 20 games for the american Hockey LEague's Utica Comets, the Canucks' AHL affiliate team, this season recording 6 goals and 11 assists for a total of 17 points. Carcone has a plus minus rating of -2 on the season and has also colelcted 6 penalty minutes thus far. I do not think it's a stretch to suggest that from a pure talent perspective this is a trade that has been won by the Canucks, but it would also be unfair to suggest that this was the intent of the Maple Leafs from the outset.

I fully expect that defenseman Travis Dermott will be immediately called back up to the main roster following this move. Stay tuned for more detaisl.