The Leafs have officially acquired right-handed defenseman Conor Timmins from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for 6-foot-9 forward Curtis Douglas. Our team here at Inside the Rink thought this move could be coming as reporters like Friedman and Seravalli mentioned the Leafs’ potential interest.
Familiarity is an incredible thing here, as Timmons came from the Soo Greyhounds but having played with Sandin and Hollowell is a sure boost as well. Another key factor in making this happen was the contract slots, as Toronto was maxed out at 50 contracts. Many thought that Simmonds being placed on waivers was to clear a contract slot, but this didn’t end up being needed for the trade as Leafs sent Douglas back to Arizona. Douglas will likely end up getting a spot in the Coyotes AHL team’s top 9 and likely has a clearer path to the NHL, while Timmins also has a better path to the NHL with the Leafs’ current injuries on defense.
As stated in this post, Timmins conditioning stint ended today, so they needed to make a move, and placing him on waivers would have resulted in a loss for nothing, so they opted to trade for Douglas instead.
Timmins comes to the Leafs at a key time for opportunity, as the Leafs’ blueline is thin due to injury. Timmins has the potential to be a part of the long-term in Toronto as a 6′ 2″ right-handed shot. His biggest concern is his injury history, but with the Leafs’ medical team, hopefully, they can help keep him healthy. Timmins is in the final year of his contract with an AAV of 850,000. Upon contract expiration, he will be an RFA, so this is the perfect time for him to prove himself and end up with an extended look in the NHL.
Watch for Timmins to quickly end up in the Leafs’ lineup and reunite with former teammate Sandin. I imagine the lines will look something like this:
Giordano – Liljegren
Sandin – Timmins
Benn – Holl
Thanks for reading! Feel free to follow me on Twitter @nathan_bondy.
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