The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning, sending goaltender Dennis Hildeby, plus a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick in the swap. Paul, 31, brought Tampa Bay production in 2025-26 and has a long playoff
When the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the move, it arrived with the kind of trade-deadline math teams live and die by: a player with playoff mileage, swapped for a piece the Lightning valued.
The Leafs acquired forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The cost was goaltender Dennis Hildeby, along with a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round selection in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Paul is 31. With Tampa Bay in 2025-26, he recorded seven goals and eight assists in 51 games. He also skated in six playoff games for the Lightning.
The statistics expand beyond the current season. The Mississauga, Ontario native has appeared in 537 career NHL games between Ottawa and Tampa Bay, registering 214 points—104 goals and 110 assists. In Tampa Bay playoff action, he’s appeared in 45 games and amassed 14 points, including 10 goals and four assists.
This is also a familiar player profile for a franchise that wants depth that can carry weight when the games tighten. Internationally, Paul has represented Canada at both senior and junior levels. He captured gold at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, scoring the tournament winning goal in overtime for Canada. He also won gold at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Before Tampa Bay, Paul’s path was rooted in the draft. He was originally selected by Dallas in the fourth round, 101st overall, of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Taken together. the trade is built around what Paul has already shown in two different arenas: regular-season production and playoff contribution. The Leafs are paying with a goaltending asset in Dennis Hildeby and draft capital across the next two years—while bringing in a winger with more than a decade of NHL experience and a track record that includes both overtime heroics for Canada and playoff games with Tampa Bay.
As the Leafs fold Paul into their plans. the immediate question becomes how quickly he can make an impact with Toronto. The deal is done. the terms are clear. and Tampa Bay has moved on from a veteran forward who has already been tested under pressure—now it’s the Leafs’ turn to see what that testing can become inside their own lineup.
Toronto Maple Leafs Tampa Bay Lightning Nick Paul Dennis Hildeby NHL trade 2027 NHL Draft 2028 NHL Draft
So Toronto gave up their goalie for a winger? Makes no sense, usually goalies are the whole thing.
I saw “2027 fourth” and “2028 third” and my brain immediately went nope lol. Draft picks are expensive, why not just keep Hildeby.
Wait Dennis Hildeby is like a big star right? Because the article kinda made it sound like he’s still the future. Trading him + picks for Nick Paul sounds like a panic move before the playoffs.
Nick Paul had 10 playoff goals for Tampa?? That part got me. But also “7 goals and 8 assists in 51 games” like… is that good? Leafs always do these deadline deals where everyone pretends the math works out and then we’re stuck watching the same stuff.