Mapleton native Nick Spaling has been involved in one of the biggest trades of the NHL offseason, a transaction which will bring the Drayton Minor Hockey product home to Ontario.
Spaling was part of a July 1 deal which saw the Toronto Maple Leafs send top scorer Phil Kessel, defenceman Tim Erixon and AHL forward Tyler Biggs to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for Spaling, forward Kasperi Kapanen (a first round draft choice in 2014), defenceman Scott Harrington, plus first- and third-round picks from 2016. The rebuilding Maple Leafs will retain $1.2 million of Kessel’s salary in each of the next seven seasons.
Kessel, who has exceeded the 30-goal mark in four of the last six seasons, scored 25 goals and 36 assists for Toronto last season.
Spaling played only one season in Pittsburgh, recording nine goals and 18 assists in 2014-15, after being traded from the Nashville Predators, who drafted the centre/winger in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2007 NHL draft. In 379 career NHL games, Spaling has scored 49 goals and recorded 62 assists. In addition, he has three goals and eight assists in 11 NHL playoff games.
In an article posted on the Leafs official site, assistant general manger Kyle Dubas said the team is “excited” to have acquired Spaling.
“He played real well at centre for Nashville, went to the wing last year in Pittsburgh, he’ll come back to centre with us and fill a need for us as he goes into the final year of his contract,” Dubas stated.
Spaling did not respond by deadline to an interview request from the Wellington Advertiser. However in a July 2 interview with TSN radio, he said he was looking forward to playing in Toronto.
“Being from the area and a Leafs fan, that’s exciting. For any player to get a chance to play here is a dream come true, especially for a Canadian player,” he stated. During the interview, Spaling said he felt the team was “heading in the right direction and as a player its fun to be part of something like this.”
Spaling also said he hopes to continue to grow the offensive side of his game and “I think this is an opportunity to do that.”
Last month, Spaling and his brother Nathan, who played hockey at the Junior B and Canadian university levels, announced they will be operating a hockey school for Novice to Pee Wee age players at the PMD arena in Drayton from Aug. 24 to 28. Registration forms are available by contacting Lorrie Spaling at 519-638-2232.
Jamie McGinn a Sabre
Another Wellington County NHL player changed teams in the days leading up to the official opening of the free agent signing period on July 1.
The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward Mikhail Grigorenko, prospect JT Compher, and the 31st pick in the 2015 draft to the Colorado Avalanche for center Ryan O’Reilly and left wing Jamie McGinn, a Fergus native.
