Toffoli traded to Devils by Flames for Sharangovich

Toffoli set NHL career highs in goals (34), assists (39) and points (73) in 82 games for the Flames this season.

“The Devils took huge strides last season, and they were definitely fun to watch,” Toffoli said. “They have so much talent and it doesn’t seem like they’re too far off, so hopefully I can come in and help and just whatever it takes to win … and it’s going to be a lot of fun. That’s when hockey is at its best, when you’re winning games.

“I think the past few seasons I’ve personally gotten better and better, and it’s something that I really take pride in. I train hard in the summer to contribute during the season. … Obviously, I want to come in and score goals and get points and do all those things, but at the same time, I really take pride in playing the full 200-foot game.”

The 31-year-old forward has one season remaining on a four-year, $17 million contract ($4.25 million average annual value) he signed with the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 13, 2020.

Toffoli said he was open to signing an extension with the Flames but talks never developed.

“At my end-of-the-year meeting I wanted to stay, and I talked [former general manager Brad Treliving], obviously [Treliving] is not there anymore, but the conversation was had and everyone knew I wanted to stay,” Toffoli said. “But it was one of those things where there wasn’t a whole lot of conversation and it didn’t sound like there was any sort of need for me or want in a way. It was a personal decision, and I felt it was time for myself and my wife to experience something different and move forward.

“I was waiting for sort of an extension conversation, and there was none coming and didn’t feel like there was one in the future.”

[RELATED: 2022-23 NHL Trade Tracker]

Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (No. 47) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Toffoli has 466 points (227 goals, 239 assists) in 733 regular-season games for the Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Canadiens and Flames. He also has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 88 postseason games, including winning the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2014.

“I’ve been on a few playoff runs here, and being able to see what it takes to win in my first full season in the NHL with guys like Justin Williams, Jarrett Stoll and Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, all these guys,” Toffoli said. “Honestly, you can name everybody on that LA Kings roster and just see how hard it took and what it takes from everybody. It goes a long way and you know, it’s one of those things where I definitely want to have that experience again.”

Sharangovich, who can become a restricted free agent on July 1, had 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 75 regular-season games, and no points in three playoff games.

“We felt like to get a little younger, he can play all three forward positions, and just to get back in the draft with another pick, would be big for us,” Calgary general manager Craig Conroy said. “… This year, not as much ice time, but we feel like if we put him in a position to have success, he will. That’s the thing, you have to project forward what he’s going to be, and he’s a very good penalty killer. That’s the thing that we watched and our scouts thought. He didn’t get a lot of power-play time, but he was excellent on the penalty kill.”

Selected by New Jersey in the fifth round (No. 141) of the 2018 NHL Draft, the 25-year-old forward has 106 points (53 goals, 53 assists) in 205 regular-season games.

“He’s kind of come on the radar the last two or three years,” Conroy said. “I read the reports, I’m watching him and when you see him, he’s a big guy (6-foot-2, 196 pounds), he skates well, goes to the net and he shoots the puck well. He seems to have that knack around the net, and he’s only getting better. Especially at 25, his game is just coming and if we can put him in a position to play with good players and [in] good spots, we feel this guy has a chance to do something really well for us.”