The Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs swapped AHLers today.
#LAKings have traded Brandon Kozun to Toronto Maple Leafs. #TML
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) January 22, 2014
Told in return for @Kozy15 the #LAKings have received ANDREW CRESCENZI from the Toronto Maple Leafs, a 6-4 forward. #TML #MapleLeafs
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) January 22, 2014
Brandon Kozun was drafted by the Kings in 2009 in the sixth round. The 23-year-old had spent four seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL and joined the Manchester Monarchs in 2010-11. In three and a half seasons with the Monarchs, Kozun has 79 goals and 100 assists in 262 games.
Kozun is small but speedy, and I’ve always enjoyed watching him play in Manchester. While he was a long-shot to crack the Kings lineup anytime soon, he is certainly a skilled player that is much better than Andrew Crescenzi, the Toronto Marlies forward that the Kings organization got in return for him.
The depressing thing is that the Leafs did indeed come out on top in this trade. As our editor Robert said it best:
It’s a sad day when Dave Nonis gets the better of you in a trade.
— Robert P. (@RobertJFTC) January 23, 2014
It is a sad day indeed. We shall miss you in Manchester, Kozun.
Here’s apparently all we need to know about Crescenzi, from the Pension Plan Puppets:
Andrew Crescenzi is a hockey player who owns skates and skates around. He’s never scored ppg in the OHL (even as an overager), but he got an assist in one of the two Marlies games he played in.
His name is difficult to spell.In summary, the Kings get rid of a good AHL scorer to acquire a big centerman who can’t score at all. If they felt size was what the needed to improve their prospects in Manchester…they were wrong. Perhaps the only positive is that Crescenzi is two years younger than Kozun. But that’s hardly enough to convince me that this trade didn’t totally suck. Because it does suck. The end.