Jiri TLoose-Leaf-Tea Gone, Paradis Brought Aboard

Brian Burke is bold, he’s decisive, and he just traded away Jiri Tlusty.

We don’t yet know Burke’s reasoning behind the deal, but we do know for certain that at some point in the next year we will see a Toronto newspaper headline that reads, “Trouble In Paradis”.

The same way he dealt Anton Stralman, Burke has shed Tlusty from the Leafs’ organization thanks at least in part to the left-winger’s non-physical style of play. Sure, you can play for Burke if you don’t hit hard or muck it up, but you’d better have the skill of Selanne, Kessel, or Kaberle if you want to be in that mix.

Tlusty was one of the best 20-year-old prospects in the AHL last year, scoring 66 points in 66 games and winning player-of-the-month honours in February, which included a 5-goal game. Now 21, he has been shipped in exchange for Philippe Paradis, who was drafted 27th overall this past June and will turn 19 in January.

From a Leafs perspective, the decision to deal Tlusty may be puzzling to some, but the former 13th overall pick hasn’t had a terrific season to date. His production is down in a year where a step forward was the logical expectation. While a point-per-game pace is acceptable at the American Hockey League level, a prospect of Tlusty’s class is expected to be better in call-up opportunities.

In 2007-08, Tlusty put up 16 points in 58 games in a respectable stint for the Leafs, but failed to record a goal in his 14-game audition in 2008-09. It was after those 14 games, that Tlusty was returned to the AHL and finished the season with solid numbers. He was given only a two-game audition this year, one in which all of the confidence that makes him so effective in the minor leagues was simply absent at the NHL level.

This trade makes sense from a Burke standpoint for a couple of reasons. First, the team’s organizational depth at centre is terrible. From the big club — who ice Stajan, Grabovski and Mitchell as their top three — all the way down to the prospects. Tlusty was drafted as a centre/left-winger but has since played the wing almost exclusively. Behind Nazem Kadri, there are centres Tyler Bozak and question mark prospect Chris DiDomenico, neither of whom are safe bets to be productive NHLers.

Paradis is described as a power forward with size, a style that is opposite and complimentary to Kadri’s game, which is driven by pure finesse and playmaking imagination. Paradis has an offensive upside but his numbers in the QMJHL aren’t at all impressive. An optimist might view this trade as the Leafs picking up a second 2009 first round pick, strengthening their cupboard, while becoming bigger and more physical up the middle. The pessimist’s perspective would point to Tlusty as a still-young prospect who has plenty of development ahead of him, and who has produced as a pro.

As always, the trade shouldn’t be judged until both Paradis and Tlusty get opportunities with their new NHL teams. Tlusty might be falling into the perfect situation in Carolina, a team that could potentially have a 1-2 centre ice tandem of Eric Staal and Taylor Hall next year. Anyone who slides in alongside those two has a greater chance to produce.

Tlusty had one of the brighter upsides of Leaf prospects, but he was certainly not the most imaginative player. He rarely moved laterally with the puck, making him often predictable on rushes. A hard wrist shot and good passer, but he lacked the imagination of a top line forward.

Brian Burke has not made this move without much consideration, as both he and Ron Wilson have had the time and opportunity to observe the now former Maple Leaf. If Tlusty would have shown an improvement on the scoresheet this year, Burke may have kept him around. Brian Burke loves skilled players, and he also appreciates a player with a good work ethic. Tlusty is skilled, but not skilled enough, and his failure to make strides this year gave Burke the indication that Tlusty’s fit was better elsewhere.

***Update*** Here are Brian Burke’s thoughts on Philippe Paradis, as stated during intermission vs. Columbus:

“This young man that we’ve picked up is a hard-nosed power forward, kind of a prototypical power forward. He’s got size. He plays centre and wing. He goes to the net hard. He hits everything he can catch, and that’s because his foot speed’s good. He’s got proper levels of truculence to be a Leaf.”

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