Nick Paul Returns Home: How the Newest Leaf Plans to Anchor the Middle-Six

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired veteran forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
Paul, a GTA native, joins the team on a contract with three years remaining at a $3.1 million AAV, fulfilling a childhood dream of playing for his hometown club.
Standing 6-foot-4 and 234 pounds, Paul provides the size and physical presence the Leafs roster has been lacking.
Head coach Jim Hiller plans to utilize Paul as a “Swiss-army knife,” capable of playing top-six offensive minutes or anchoring a shutdown third line.
With his extensive NHL experience, Paul is expected to provide stability and versatility to support the team’s younger core, including Easton Cowan and Matthew Knies.