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The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired center Tomas Plekanec and winger Kyle Baun from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Rinat Valiev, and a 2018 second-round pick, forward Kerby Rychel, the teams announced Sunday. The deal solidifies the Leafs’ depth up the middle as the Habs begin selling off what they can to reload for next season.

Plekanec was one of the top rental players to be available on the market before the trade deadline Monday. He’s no longer the top two-way center that he was at his peak,Authentic Jake Guentzel jersey, but the 35-year-old is still a solid role player who has recorded 24 points in 60 games for Montreal this season.

The Leafs already had strong center depth with Auston Matthews, and Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri,adidas Matt Murray jersey, so Plekanec will allow them to roll four lines deep up the middle if everyone is healthy.

You can’t help but wonder if Toronto was partially compelled to make the move after the Pittsburgh Penguins landed center Derick Brassard in a three-team trade Saturday. The two-time defending Cup winners now have Brassard, and Evgeni Malkin at center,Authentic Joe Pavelski jersey, Sidney Crosby, so the Leafs may have decided that they needed to strengthen their already impressive forward group.

In exchange for Plekanec and Baun, a throw-in AHL depth player,adidas Patrick Marleau jersey, fans in Toronto will likely be pleased to see that top prospects like Kasperi Kapanen, the Maple Leafs gave up a trio of future assets. However, Timothy Liljegren, and Andreas Johnsson were retained while still adding a solid piece to the lineup.

Valiev was Toronto’s third-round pick (No. 68 overall) in 2014. He’s spent most of the past three seasons in the AHL,adidas Joe Thornton jersey, where he’s flashed potential but been unable to earn an opportunity on an improving Leafs team. Rychel was a 2013 first-round pick by Columbus who flamed out there before being dumped in Toronto, where the Leafs still managed to find some value in him as a piece to this trade.

Neither of those players is likely to be a major piece for Montreal, but they’re affordable depth pieces that could fill spots at the bottom of the NHL roster. The team also receive the Leafs’ second-round pick, Chicago’s, which now gives it four picks in the second round this year: Toronto’s, Washington’s, and its own. That’s six picks in the first three rounds for Montreal.

And as they wait for the phone to ring with the NHL trade deadline approaching, the Buffalo Sabres play on. Away from KeyBank Center, the Sabres' road show continues to be a rousing success.

It continues Saturday night in Capital One Arena against the Washington Capitals, the Sabres are on their best road point streak since going 6-0-1 in 2011, with Buffalo at 5-0-1 in its last six road games following Thursday's 3-2 overtime buzzer-beater in Detroit. For a team that remains dead last in the Eastern Conference, their last playoff season.

Lehner spent the first half of the season leading the league in goals-against average and save percentage at home but has since found the same kind of trouble the rest of his team has. On the road, suddenly,adidas Jake Guentzel jersey, Lehner has been staunch.

In his last seven games at home, Lehner is just 1-5-1 with a 3.80 goals-against average. His last four on the road?Authentic Matt Murray jersey, The numbers are 3-0-1, 1.22 and .963.

Lehner made a pair of key saves on odd-man rushes in the wild,Authentic Patrick Marleau jersey, whistle-less overtime session Thursday in Little Caesars Arena.

"It's more open ice at 3-on-3 so you can't be deep in your net on a shooter," Lehner said. "A guy has time to pick a corner. Then you have to be aggressive on him but he gets the puck over and you've got to throw yourself over. We made much smarter decisions in overtime than we have in the past. We held on to the puck more. Smarter decisions give you a better chance."

Things remained status quo for the Sabres at practice Friday, which potential trade subjects Evander Kane and Benoit Pouliot taking regular shifts on their lines while goaltenders Chad Johnson and Lehner put in their normal day. It remains to be seen if any players will be held out of Saturday's game or Sunday visit by Boston,adidas Joe Pavelski jersey, the final game before the deadline.

"There's that hesitation at home. It's cumulative and builds up,Authentic Joe Thornton jersey," Lehner said. "It's a different feeling. The positive is we really want to do it but it feels like every home game now is a must-win game. Hopefully it can turn around. Our fans back home deserve to see some of this winning hockey."

Jason Botterill isn't going to fix the Buffalo Sabres by Monday's trade deadline. The general manager is expected to make significant moves,adidas Martin Jones jersey, of course, but there will still be holes everywhere in the organization.

That actually could be a good thing as college free agency approaches.

When NHL unrestricted free agents look for contracts, they weigh everything from dollar amounts to weather to schools for the kids. College free agents primarily want to play right away.

"The biggest thing for me was just the opportunity that was here,Authentic Martin Jones jersey," said Sabres center Evan Rodrigues, who signed with Buffalo after completing his Boston University career in the spring of 2015. "I thought there might be a spot that I could come in and take right away."

The mindset was the same for defenseman Casey Nelson, who signed in March 2016 after finishing his junior season at Minnesota State. His adviser compiled depth charts of NHL and minor-league rosters, and they examined which teams offered an immediate opportunity.

"It came down to a couple," said Nelson, but there was a perfect fit, who played seven games in Buffalo immediately after signing. "I wouldn't change a thing."

NCAA teams are wrapping up their regular season this weekend. Conference tournaments are the opening week of March. The seniors and underclassmen who are ready for the next step will be hearing from the interested teams that have been watching them all season.

"I had a few teams, and it took me about a week just to talk to people," Rodrigues said. "Sometimes it comes down to just a gut feeling, lay out the pros and cons, and I weighed out pros and cons, and it looked like Buffalo had the most pros.

"Buffalo just seemed like a spot that was right for me."

Rodrigues played two games for Buffalo during his first professional season and upped that to 30 last year. The 24-year-old is a regular now, skating as the second-line center with Jack Eichel injured.

The college players and their advisers should see plenty of open field in Buffalo. Though Rochester has a winning record, the Amerks are keyed by minor-league veterans. Goaltender Linus Ullmark, defenseman Brendan Guhle and left wing C.J. Smith, who signed as a college free agent from UMass-Lowell last spring, might be the only bona fide prospects who appear ready to advance to Buffalo soon.

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