This was a claim we mentioned as a possibility yesterday on the site, with the Devils having priority over the Edmonton Oilers in the waiver order. The Leafs did have an insurance policy on their insurance policy in that offseason signing Michael Hutchinson will become the team’s third-string goaltender on the taxi squad with Dell packing his bags for New Jersey.
The flexibility created with Dell moved off of the roster — as well as the option to toggle Jason Spezza back and forth to the taxi squad over the next 10 games or 30 days — means the Leafs are able to mix in different options now, including a lineup of 11 forwards and 7 defensemen that would allow them to dress Mikko Lehtonen, which appears to be the plan tonight vs.