DEAL: Maple Leafs and Panthers agree to weird trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers are battling each other for a playoff spot at the moment and have decided it was time to help each other out. The two teams agreed on a deal on Wednesday involving a couple of depth players.

The Leafs sent rarely used forward Mason Marchment to the Panthers in exchange for bottom-six forward Denis Malgin.

Marchment will provide the Panthers with a big body and a willingness to muck it up in the dirty areas, if given the opportunity on the big club. Meanwhile, the Leafs get Malgin, who can play some centre, is a year younger than Marchment (23) and has restricted status next offseason.

Malgin has 12 points on the year and Panthers GM, Dale Tallon admitted the player asked to be dealt weeks ago. To note, Malgin was a rookie with Auston Matthews in the Swiss League when he was 18 and Matthews was 17.

The Leafs are hoping he can help provide some consistency to their bottom six forwards as the team has struggled lately and is on the brink of disaster. Much to the liking of most the fans of the NHL.