The Maple Leafs have acquired forward Aatu Räty from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan.

Toronto announced the deal this afternoon, hours before puck drop against Buffalo, and Frank Seravalli reposted it shortly after.

Räty has a goal this season on an $850,000 cap hit, and he's at -2 through four games with the Canucks.

This is a smart, low-risk swing for Toronto. Two depth pieces for a young forward with NHL games under his belt is the kind of bet good teams make.

It's like trading two seeds for a plant that has already sprouted.

Buhr and Quillan have yet to appear in an NHL game this season.

Vancouver is 2-6-0 and has lost five straight, so the Canucks are clearly shuffling the deck.

The Leafs add a young forward to a fourth line still waiting on a point

Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger and Benoit-Olivier Groulx have yet to record a point between them through seven games.

Colton Sissons has one goal and no assists on a $4,250,000 cap hit.

At 23, Räty is younger than every forward in that group.

Toronto is 3-3-1 after Tuesday's 5-4 loss in Utah.

The Leafs have scored 24 goals and allowed 23.

Auston Matthews and William Nylander have 12 points apiece, so the top of the lineup isn't the issue.

Jim Hiller is also projected to put Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna together tonight for the first time.

Chris Tanev remains out until at least Oct 22.

Buffalo visits tonight, though there's no word yet on when Räty will join the lineup.

Manny Malhotra's Canucks have been outscored 38-26 and visit Florida tonight.

Vancouver already dropped Zeev Buium to the third pairing this week as it searches for answers.

The Canucks have also been linked to Calgary's Connor Zary, so more moves could follow.

Does Räty slot into the bottom six right away, or start with the Marlies?

Small trades rarely make headlines. This one could matter more than people expect if Räty gives Toronto's depth a pulse.

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Maple Leafs acquire Aatu Räty from Canucks for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr

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