The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe from Chicago on Monday, their latest big trade that comes in the aftermath of

Toronto sent a conditional 2025 first-round pick, a second-rounder in 2026, prospect Pavel Gogolev and forward Joey Anderson to the Blackhawks for Lafferty, McCabe and conditional fifth-round picks in 2024 and 鈥�25. Chicago is retaining half of McCabe鈥檚 salary.

The Leafs look to again be on a crash course to face the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, after losing to them in a seven-game series last year. Tampa Bay on Sunday paid a hefty price for forward Tanner Jeannot, sending young defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks 鈥� including a first in 2025 鈥� to Nashville.

The Lightning won the Stanley Cup back to back in 2020 and 鈥�21 and went to the final in 2022. This move could set them up for another deep run, no matter the cost.

鈥淭he reality at is you鈥檙e going to have to overpay,鈥� Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said at a news conference Monday in Tampa. 鈥淎 lot had to go our way for us to accumulate such a critical mass of good players all at once. My job, my responsibility as the custodian for this group is to sometimes take risks to maximize our return for this era.鈥�

Lafferty and McCabe to Toronto continued the flow of talent from sellers in the Western Conference to contenders in the East. Also Sunday, from San Jose, and from Washington on Thursday.

鈥淓verybody wants to put all the really good players in the East on trades,鈥� Fitzgerald said with a chuckle. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

Previously, the New York Islanders got 30-goal-scoring center Bo Horvat from Vancouver and the from St. Louis. The to for the first time in nearly two decades.

But getting through the Atlantic Division with the Lightning and first-place Bruins and the East at-large with one of the Carolina Hurricanes, Devils or Rangers likely waiting in the conference final won鈥檛 be easy.

鈥淭he East, it鈥檚 a powerhouse,鈥� Fitzgerald said Sunday night. 鈥淚t really is. It鈥檚 really a powerhouse.鈥�

And that鈥檚 even before from Chicago, the last highly anticipated trade before the deadline Friday that is hinging on New York鈥檚 salary cap situation. But Fitzgerald also pointed out the Lightning are still the best of the East until someone beats them.

The Leafs would like to do that, and McCabe 鈥� signed for two more seasons after this one 鈥� certainly strengthens the blue line that has been one of their weaknesses. Lafferty, also under contract beyond this year, gives Toronto more forward depth.

The same goes for Jeannot with Tampa Bay in a trade similar to BriseBois getting Brandon Hagel from Chicago at the deadline a year ago. BriseBois in previous years acquired defenseman David Savard (2021) and forwards Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman (2020) and lifted the Cup each time.

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, an assistant for the Lightning during their three trips to the final, told reporters in Ottawa: 鈥淚鈥檒l never question Julien BriseBois.鈥� And Tampa Bay might not be done.

鈥淣ever say never,鈥� BriseBois said. 鈥淭he focus has been on this trade the last little while. Now that we鈥檙e able to bring that to the final line, we鈥檙e going to reconvene today and look at whether there are other opportunities out there worth exploring.鈥�

鈥擲tephen Whyno, The Associated Press