Paul had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 51 games last season, the 31-year-old forward’s fifth with the Lightning.
A fourth-round pick by the Dallas Stars (No. 101) at the 2013 NHL Draft, Paul has 214 points (104 goals, 110 assists) in 537 regular-season games with the Ottawa Senators and Lightning, and 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 45 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Paul, who was born in Mississauga, Ontario, said Friday the past 24 hours have been “hectic.”
“A lot going on. I still don’t think I’ve had the time to process it,” Paul said. “Growing up in Mississauga and being a Leaf fan and all my friends being Leafs fans going to school, I think in an hour I had over 600 unread messages and calls so I’m completely overwhelmed with everything but that excitement of everyone being fired up that I’m back and me being back and then thinking about my childhood and going to games pretending to score goals with my Leafs jersey on, all of this in a short period of time, it hasn’t settled in yet but it’s just excitement.”
Hildeby played 20 games (14 starts) for the Maple Leafs last season and was 5-7-4 with a 2.86 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and one shutout. The 24-year-old also played 23 games for Toronto of the American Hockey League and was 10-8-5 with a 2.71 GAA and .898 save percentage.
Selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round (No. 122) at the 2022 NHL Draft, Hildeby is 8-10-4 with a 2.98 GAA, .906 save percentage and one shutout in 26 NHL games (20 starts).
NHL.com Independent Correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report
