The Leafs partially solved their roster jam Thursday, trading winger Nikita Soshnikov to the St. Louis Blues for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft. The fate of Soshnikov — plus forwards Josh Leivo and Matt Martin — had been uncertain since the Russian ended a five-game conditioning stint with the Marlies last weekend. That left the Leafs with three extra forwards and 23 available players, one over the limit. He appeared in just three games with the Leafs this season. The two have been healthy scratches — Leivo for most of the season, and Martin for almost three weeks now —and with the Feb. 26 trade deadline approaching, the Leafs might yet clear one of those wingers from the roster to gain a draft pick.

Source: thestar February 16, 2018 01:26 UTC