New Maple Leaf forward Olli Jokinen was definitely surprised when word broke Sunday that he’d been traded from Nashville to Toronto.

But the veteran centre was quick to put things into perspective, including the fact he may not remain in Toronto very long, should the Leafs find a contending team to trade for his services.

“It was a big surprise, but I guess I wasn’t surprised to be traded,” Jokinen said as he underwent a physical with the Leafs during the team’s practice Monday.

“I’ve been in this game a long time and it’s a numbers game, there’s only so many roster spots . . . but this is definitely a tough part of the business.”

Jokinen is questionable for Tuesday’s home game against Florida, largely because the deal that brought him and prospect Brendan Leipsic to Toronto has not been finalized.

Both Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli — who went the other way to Nashville in the Sunday trade — were in Toronto on Monday morning to say goodbye to their Leafs teammates.

None of the players involved in the trade are permitted to play for their new teams until all of them clear physicals. It’s doubtful Franson and Santorelli will have completed their part of the process in time for Tuesday’s game.

Leipsic similarly wasn’t expected to play with the Marlies for their home game Monday.

Jokinen accurately portrayed his situation in Nashville. With only three goals for the Predators in 48 games, Jokinen said the lack of production was in part due to the fact that, as a life-long centre, he was asked to play on the wing.

The position change was entirely awkward for him, and led to his demise on a Predators team he signed with as a free agent as part of a personal goal to play on a winner this season.

But Jokinen was part of the Predators’ rash of signings at centre — Derek Roy and Mike Ribiero were also in the mix. With Filip Forsberg having what appears to be a rookie of the year season, Jokinen slipped down the roster.

“I had a pretty good idea I was getting traded probably the last five or six days,” Jokinen said. “They (Nashville GM David Poille) were open about their players. You didn’t know what exactly was going to happen, and no one wants to be part of that extra forward group. I was with a first place team, but like I said, it’s a numbers game.”

Jokinen was asked about his feelings after leaving the league-leading Predators for a Leafs team that is out of the playoffs and heading for a bottom-five finish in the NHL. Reports suggested he was not happy about the trade or coming to Toronto.

“Yeah (I’m happy), why wouldn’t I be,” Jokinen said. “I’m still in the NHL and for me you got the experience to play, and everything here (Toronto) is first class. So this is where it is at now.”

Leafs coach Peter Horachek said he has not given thought to where Jokinen will play, in large part because the deal has not been finalized.

But the Leafs, despite recalling winger Brandon Kozun and defenceman Petter Granberg from the Marlies, practised Monday with 11 forwards —one less than the normal quota of 12.

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Trevor Smith did not practise and Horachek said the fourth line centre was nursing a “nagging injury” that will likely keep him out of Tuesday’s game.

In the meantime, both Dion Phaneuf (hand) and Joffrey Lupul (lower body) skated prior to practice, but appear no closer to returning to the club this week.