Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Michael Hutchinson from Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired goaltender Michael Hutchinson from the Florida Panthers, bolstering their goaltender depth with Frederik Andersen sidelined.

In exchange for Michael Hutchinson, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent the Florida Panthers their fifth-round draft pick in 2020.

Hutchinson joins the Leafs after the team was forced to call-up Kasimir Kaskisuo from their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, on an emergency basis after it was announced that starter Frederik Andersen was listed day-to-day with a groin injury.

Hutchinson isn’t likely to suit up for the Leafs any time soon, with Garret Sparks set to take on more responsibility while Andersen is sidelined – starting with tonight’s game against the New York Islanders.

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The former third round (77th overall) selection of the Boston Bruins has 106 NHL appearances under his belt, with 102 of them coming during his spell with the Winnipeg Jets.

Between 2014 and 17, Hutchinson was called into action quite often by the Jets, making 38, 30 and 28 regular season appearances across three separate campaigns.

His most recent appearances have come while wearing a Panthers jersey, with Hutchinson holding a 1-1-2 record in four appearances, starting three of those games. Hutchinson has averaged 4.14 goals against with a save percentage of just .839, the lowest such numbers of any season so far in his career.

The 28-year-old has also made eight appearances for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL this season, with 3.33 goals against on average with a .906 save percentage in the minors. The acquisition of Hutchinson will serve the Marlies well, with the goaltending situation having had many questions in recent weeks.

With Kaskisuo backing up Sparks during tonight’s game, it allows Hutchinson to slot into the Marlies line-up effortlessly, with Eamon McAdam expected to continue his role with the reigning Calder Cup champions.

For the Leafs, they have also parted ways with very little in terms of assets, obtaining an AHL-quality goaltender for a fifth-round pick that can help the team stabilize across the rest of the 2018/19 season.

What do you think Leafs fans? Are you happy with the trade? Will Hutchinson suit up for the NHL club this season or will he purely help serve the Toronto Marlies moving forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!