New Leafs And Their Role – Nick Paul

This story is powered by Betalytics — the intelligent platform for sports betting — and by Rude Hockey apparel.

This afternoon's recommended play. Thirty minutes to game time.

Sign up at https://t.co/rvhCW3V9Jd to start your 5-day free trial. Use Promo Code: HHS to receive a 25% discount on the best predictive sports data available. https://t.co/hIt50qDmBu
— HockeyHotStove (@HockeyHStove) July 2, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka made a major reshuffle of his roster, starting with the trade of Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to Philadelphia last month. The club added defenseman Emil Andrae and began restocking the shelves with the signings of forwards Colton Sissons, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime, and Zach MacEwen, and trading Dennis Hildeby to Tampa Bay for Nick Paul.

This week, we will complete our look at the players Chayka brought in and look at what role they are likely to be tasked at filling under new head coach Jim Hiller next season

Nick Paul

The Leafs completed a cavalcade of depth forward moves with a trade with Atlantic rival Tampa Bay, swapping a pair of draft picks and goaltender Dennis Hildeby for big forward Nick Paul. The 31-year-old was a 2013 draft pick of the Dallas Stars, who was included in the 2014 deal that sent former Leaf Jason Spezza to Dallas.

The Mississauga native split time between the AHL and Ottawa over the next five seasons, before playing all 56 games of the shortened 2020-21 season with the Sens. After a strong start in 2022, Paul was dealt to the Lightning, where played all 23 games in their run to the Stanley Cup Final, highlighted by a two-goal performance to eliminate

The Lightning locked up Paul after the season to a seven-year, $22.05 million contract ($3.15 million AAV) and for the first three years of the deal that looked to be a steal, as he posted years of 17, 24, and 22 goals. Last season, he dealt with a variety of injuries and playing only 51 games, scoring just 15 points (7 goals, 8 assists).

The Leafs saw the acquisition of Paul as an opportunity to strengthen up the middle with a veteran at a cost-certain amount for three more seasons. Based on how he was utilized by Jon Cooper in Tampa, it is likely that the big forward will be used as a third line center, but the group added by Chayka has enough versatility that he could be shifted to the wing at times.

Toronto is gambling that Paul will rebound and score in the teens, to provide some secondary offense and take some of the offensive onus off of the top six.