Maple Leafs trade Dennis Hildeby for Nick Paul

Maple Leafs Complete Trade With Tampa Bay | Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round selection in the 2028 NHL Draft. Paul, 31, recorded seven goals and eight

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round selection in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Paul, 31, recorded seven goals and eight assists in 51 games with Tampa Bay in 2025-26, before skating in six playoff games for the Lightning. The Mississauga, Ontario native has appeared in 537 career NHL games between Ottawa and Tampa Bay, registering 214 points (104 goals, 110 assists). He has appeared in 45 playoff games with the Lightning and amassed 14 points (10 goals, four assists).

Internationally, Paul has represented Canada at the senior and junior levels, capturing gold at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he scored the tournament winning goal in overtime for Canada, as well as gold at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Paul was originally selected by Dallas in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.

With the signing of Sergei Bobrovsky, Dennis Hidebly became an extra goalie who was not waivers exempt. Trading him seemed inevitable.

Paul has, natuarally, been a thorn in the sides of the Leafs with the Lightning.

A careful study of the players signed today would reveal a defensive bent to every single one, and Paul is no exception.

Paul is 31, another centre, and is under contract for three more years at $3.150 million. He has a modified no-trade in all three years of 16 teams. He either waived it for this deal or the Leafs weren't on it.