Paul traded to Maple Leafs by Lightning for Hildeby, draft picks

Nick Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday for goalie Dennis Hildeby, a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Paul had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 51 games last season, the 31-year-old forward’s fifth with the Lightning.

A fourth-round pick by the Dallas Stars (No. 101) at the 2013 NHL Draft, Paul has 214 points (104 goals, 110 assists) in 537 regular-season games with the Ottawa Senators and Lightning, and 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 45 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Hildeby played 20 games (14 starts) for the Maple Leafs last season and was 5-7-4 with a 2.86 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and one shutout. The 24-year-old also played 23 games for Toronto of the American Hockey League and was 10-8-5 with a 2.71 GAA and .898 save percentage. 

Selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round (No. 122) at the 2022 NHL Draft, Hildeby is 8-10-4 with a 2.98 GAA, .906 save percentage and one shutout in 26 NHL games (20 starts).