The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired stalwart defenceman Luke Schenn on Tuesday from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Schenn, 34, had been rumoured to be on the block because his skillset — he’s a rugged, veteran, stay-at-home defenceman who has won two Stanley Cups — is in high demand for teams making a push into the playoffs. Plus, he’s a relative bargain: A pending UFA, Schenn’s cap hit is $850,000 this season.
In 55 games with the Canucks this season, Schenn has three goals and 18 assists for 21 points. In 918 career games with the Canucks, Lightning, Flyers, Leafs, Kings, Coyotes and Ducks, Schenn has 41 goals and 149 assists for 190 points. His career average time on ice is 17:39.
Schenn, whose wife, Jeska Peczek, is pregnant with an expected delivery date of March 3, was sent back to Vancouver on Feb 21 for trade-related reasons.
The Saskatoon native who now calls Kelowna, B.C., home was the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick, fifth overall, in 2008.
The Canucks have struggled this season and are 12th in the Western Conference with a 24-31-5 record.
The move is the fifth trade the Maple Leafs have made in the lead up to Friday’s trade deadline. In all, the team has added Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Accari, Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, Erik Gustaffson as well as a first-round pick and third-round pick.