At first glance, this trade is a bit of a head-scratcher. It seems like a simple one-for-one minor-leaguer for minor-leaguer trade that won’t have much of an impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
In fact, it is questionable if Schmaltz is an upgrade over Borgman at all.
This trade, however, is going to have an impact on the Leafs. Acquiring Schmaltz opens up the Leafs defensive depth chart, and balances it out, something that may become very useful down the road.
What Did the Leafs Lose?
Before we look at the team’s defensive depth, I want to break down this trade quickly.