Leafs trade Peter Holland to Coyotes in exchange for probably nothing

The Toronto Maple Leafs have trimmed their roster by one, sending Peter Holland to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.

The Toronto native has been with the Leafs since the 2013-14 season, but has suited up for just eight games for the team this season in very limited minutes. The 25-year-old will likely see more ice time with the Coyotes.

The Leafs meanwhile, get a conditional sixth-round draft pick in 2018, though it seems unlikely the condition will be met.

If Peter Holland is re-signed or traded by #coyotes, the #leafs get a 2018 sixth-rounder. If not, they get nothing.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 9, 2016

Arizona will have incentive not to re-sign the pending restricted free agent because it’s likely they could find a replacement in the offseason that wouldn’t cost them a sixth rounder.

More importantly though, the Leafs now have an open roster spot.

That spot is likely reserved for 23-year-old Josh Leivo, who has been on non-roster injured reserve for the last few weeks.

With Peter Holland traded to Arizona, expect Josh Leivo will be activated to roster and Maple Leafs will be at 23 players

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) December 9, 2016

A third-round pick in 2011, Leivo has spent the past three seasons with the Toronto Marlies, while earning a few call-ups along the way. That included a 12-game stint with the Leafs in which he scored 5 goals.

With Leivo ready to return, the Leafs needed to open a roster spot, and Holland was that spot.

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Holland was likely not surprised by being moved, as this seemed to be a matter of when, not if.

That goes back to late November when Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello told Holland to stay home during the team’s recent three-game road trip, stating he would do his best to find a suitor for the disgruntled forward.

Holland played a total of 174 games in his four-season stint with the Leafs, scoring 25 goals and adding 38 assists.

Though he’s now off to Arizona, Holland will be back in Toronto in less than a week when the Leafs host the Coyotes on December 15th, and you can bet he’ll be looking to make an impact against his former team.