The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Jiri Tlusty to Carolina for prospect Philippe Paradis, the Hurricanes announced Thursday.

Tlusty has seen his time in a Leaf uniform dwindle since he broke into the lineup for 58 games back in 2007-08. The 21-year-old only suited up for 14 contests in 2008-09 and two so far this season.

In 2007-08, he scored 10 goals and added six assists. He hasn't scored an NHL goal since then.

With the AHL's Toronto Marlies, he has eight goals and seven assists in 19 games this season.

"This trade gives us an opportunity to pick up a young, skilled forward who is further along in his development, albeit still in the development phase," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said in a release.

"We feel that Jiri has a chance to be with the Hurricanes sooner than Philippe, who is a good, but still very young, prospect."

The Czech was selected in the first round, 13th overall, by Toronto in the 2006 NHL Draft. He'll be assigned to the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats.

Paradis, 18, was picked by Carolina in the first round of the 2009 draft, 27th overall.

The six-foot-two, 205-pounder who hails from Dolbeau, Que., is with the Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL, where he has eight goals and 11 assists in 26 games this season.