The rebuilding Maple Leafs have made a deal that continues to establish their 'get younger' mentality.
The Leafs traded goaltender James Reimer to the San Jose Sharks in a four-player deal Saturday, the clubs announced.
In return for Reimer and minor-league forward Jeremy Morin, the Maple Leafs received backup goalie Alex Stalock, forward Ben Smith, and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2018.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, no salary is being retained by either club in the deal.
Reimer solidifies San Jose's situation between the pipes, providing depth down the stretch and into the playoffs. No. 1 goalie Martin Jones has a .916 save percentage and five shutouts in 51 games, winning 29. For Reimer, it will be an opportunity to help the Sharks go from contender to Stanley Cup champions.
Drafted by Toronto in the fourth round in 2006, Reimer leaves with an 11-12-7 record this season for the struggling Maple Leafs, with a .918 save percentage. He's struggled badly in February, with an .869 save percentage and 3.80 GAA in seven starts. He has a lifetime .914 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 188 starts and 207 games over six seasons.
Reimer's earning $2 million this season, and carries a cap hit of $2.3 million. He'll be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and will turn 28 on March 15.
Stalock, 28, has an .884 save percentage in 13 games and nine starts in 2015-16. He has a career .911 save percentage and four shutouts in 62 games and 46 starts, all with San Jose. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Smith, 27, has no points in six games for the Sharks this season. He's played 181 games over his career, scoring 25 goals and adding 19 assists. He will also be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
Morin, had two goals and four assists in 43 games for the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He has 28 points in 41 games in the AHL in 2015-16. He'll be a restricted free agent at season's end.
The Leafs now have 28 draft picks in the next three drafts, 17 in the first four rounds.
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