The Toronto Maple Leafs have dealt forward Daniel Winnik to the Penguins in exchange for Zach Sill, a fourth-round pick in 2015, and a second-round pick in 2016.

Zach Sill has just 3 points in 42 games with the Penguins this season.  The scrappy Nova Scotia native is more known for rough fists, rather than soft hands.  He has 60 penalty minutes while playing about 9 minutes a game on average.

Winnik is a depth move for the Pens.  He’s been one of a very few bright spots for the Leafs this season.  The 6-foot, 29-year old has 7 goals and 19 assists through 60 games.  His most impressive stat perhaps is his +14, especially considering that the rest of the team is nearly all minus.

Both players will become unrestricted free agents on July 1st.

In order to fit Winnik under Pittsburgh’s salary cap, Toronto has agreed to retain 50% of his $1.3 million salary.  The monetary favour was good enough to force the Penguins into adding their second-rounder after next season.

Sill will likely play more minutes with the Buds.  He’s got 22 games left to try to boost his appeal for potential teams in the upcoming off season.  In David Nonis’s eyes he’s pretty much just a position filler to get through the rest of the campaign.

There’s just five days left for the Leafs’ GM to try to make any more deals.  But don’t hold your breath Toronto fans, the three players most coveted by the opposition have all already headed out of town.

 

Rodney Hiemstra

@therodbot