Overview
- Toronto sent Hildeby to Tampa Bay on July 1 in the deal that brought forward Nick Paul to the Maple Leafs.
- Hildeby said he got the trade call about five minutes before Belgium faced Senegal in the World Cup and missed roughly the first 45 minutes of the match while fielding calls.
- The Lightning expect Hildeby to compete for a roster or backup role and to develop by practicing and learning alongside Vasilevskiy.
- Toronto made the move to reduce a three-goalie logjam after signing Sergei Bobrovsky and because prospect Artur Akhtyamov’s emergence changed the Leafs’ goaltending depth chart.
- Hildeby reflected positively on three seasons in Toronto and said he received a warm welcome in Tampa Bay from Victor Hedman and Pontus Holmberg, and observers should watch training-camp crease competition and the likely departure of Jonas Johansson.