TORONTO -- Davis Nonis has made his first trade as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending Matthew Lombardi to the Phoenix Coyotes ahead of the impending NHL season.
In return Wednesday, the Leafs acquired a conditional third-round pick in the 2014 draft from Phoenix.
The five-foot-11, 191-pound centre had eight goals and 10 assists in 62 games with Toronto last season.
"We are very pleased to bring a player like Matthew back to our team," said Coyotes GM Don Maloney. "Matthew is a very strong skater who will add quickness and skill to our lineup. He is an intelligent centre who will be a great addition to our team and provides us with added depth at the centre position."
Lombardi will make US$3.5 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Lombardi previously spent parts of two seasons with Phoenix, scoring 19 goals and 34 points in 87 games in 2009-10.
The Montreal native, who was drafted by Calgary 90th overall in 2002, has 97 goals and 157 assists in 508 NHL games with the Flames, Coyotes, Predators and Leafs.
The swap is the first by Nonis, who assumed Toronto's GM job after Brian Burke was fired last Wednesday.
