Maple Leafs add Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty

The arms race in the Eastern Conference continues. 

In another Western to Eastern conference move, the Toronto Maple Leafs added Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty on Monday. 

Chicago added a conditional 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and Joey Anderson and Pavel Gogolev in the deal. 

The Blackhawks retained 50 percent of McCabe's salary to make the deal happen. Toronto also added a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024 and 2025. 

McCabe had 20 points in 55 games from the blue line for a Chicago team in the midst of a tank. Lafferty had 21 points in 55 games, both players move from the race for Connor Bedard to the loaded playoff race in the Eastern Conference. 

The move comes one day after the Tampa Bay Lightning added Tanner Jeannot for a king's ransom, and teams across the east seem to be in the “get tougher and more difficult to play against,” phase of the trade deadline. 

It's also an all-in season for Toronto GM Kyle Dubas, who has mortgaged future assets and picks in season to add four key pieces before the deadline.