The Toronto Maple Leafs made the minor deal just minutes before Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
VANCOUVER — Dryden Hunt’s time in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization has come to an end.
The physical forward was traded in a minor deal with the Calgary Flames on Friday in exchange for forward Radim Zohorna.
The Maple Leafs acquired Hunt in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche earlier in the season in exchange for Dryden Hunt. Described at the time as a move to change up their forward mix, the Leafs had hoped Hunt could bring an element of physical play that was needed in the team’s bottom-six forward group.
There were two reasons why Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas pulled the trigger on the move.
The first one came down to the depth at center. Toronto's scouting department had been impressed with the 6'6" Zohorna while Dryden primarily played on the wing.
"You’re always worried you’re never going to have enough centers, or D or goalies," Dubas explained. "For us, it was being able to add a center to the mix, who is a non-veteran in the American League because that’ll help the Marlies as well.
AHL veteran rule
The minor league rule is established so that younger prospects aren't limited in playing opportunities for under-developed players. Teams can dress no more than five veteran players in a single game.
For a skater to qualify as a veteran, the player must have played over 320 NHL, AHL or “elite-level” European regular season games. Dryden meets that threshold, where Zohorna does not.
Hunt played in nine games with the Maple Leafs before he was assigned to the Marlies after he had cleared waivers. He scored one goal in nine games with Toronto.
In Zohorna, the Leafs get a big prospect at 6’6” 220-pound prospect with versatility. He had 10 goals and 19 assists with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers this season.