Toronto Maple Leafs trade Fedor Gordeev rights to Minnesota

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded the rights to Fedor Gordeev to the Minnesota Wild for a conditional draft pick.

The rights to the Toronto Maple Leafs unsigned prospect Fedor Gordeev have been traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Gordeev was originally selected in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2017 draft, being one of a number of players chosen based on his size thanks to Mark Hunter.

The 20-year-old, a left-handed defenceman, stands at an astonishing 6-foot-7, 227lbs and continued his development in the Ontario Hockey League after being selected by the Leafs.

Originally playing for the Flint Firebirds, Gordeev saw himself traded to the Guelph Storm – where he enjoyed a deep run to the Memorial Cup semi-finals, with the Storm earning the OHL Championship before falling short to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

In 202 total regular season appearances in the OHL, which also included brief spells with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Gordeev earned 19 goals and 73 total points.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had until 1st June to sign Gordeev to an entry-level deal, otherwise, he would have been eligible to re-enter the draft as an over-ager.

It became clear that the Leafs were not going to sign the big-bodied defenceman before the deadline and have managed to acquire something for virtually nothing as a result.

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The condition attached to the 2020 seventh round pick was whether or not Gordeev signed an ELC with the Wild – which he proceeded to do almost immediately after the trade became public.

Trading away a prospect that general manager Kyle Dubas didn’t appear to believe in is a smart piece of business for the organisation, even if the pick is in the seventh round.

It is also good news for Gordeev, who will now have a chance to prove he is capable of reaching the NHL – likely spending the next few seasons developing his game with the AHL’s Iowa Wild.

His large frame will undoubtedly have attracted the Wild, who will be hoping that he works out – having cost them very little to acquire in the long-run.

While not a blockbuster trade for either team, both sets of fans can feel satisfied with this deal as it suits what both organizations wanted at a relatively low cost.

What do you think Leafs fans? Are you pleased to see the team obtain a pick in exchange for a prospect they clearly weren’t going to keep around? Are you disappointed that Gordeev won’t be a part of the organisation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!