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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Things to Expect In The Next Week

By Stephen Nixon

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: (l-r) Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs handle the draft table during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: (l-r) Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs handle the draft table during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Rasmus Sandin poses after being selected twenty-ninth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

#3. Trade First Round Pick

When the Toronto Maple Leafs originally traded their first-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes with Patrick Marleau, I felt OK about the deal. It was the necessary move in order to get rid of the terrible Marleau contract. However, after the team didn’t even make the playoffs this year, it was disheartening knowing they didn’t have a first-round pick.

But then, Kyle Dubas totally redeemed himself, receiving Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in the Kasperi Kapenen trade. Now that the Leafs have the 15th overall selection, expect the team to move it, instead of keeping it.

The Leafs have a large number of assets, but not a ton of tradeable ones. I mean, teams are lining up to acquire players like Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly, but they’re all most likely untouchable. The biggest trade piece the Leafs have is their first-round pick.

A first-round pick in the NHL is like gold to most teams, especially this season. The Leafs could always use a good player on an Entry Level Contract, but a 15th overall selection may not play for your team for another two-three years. Unfortunately the Leafs don’t have that type of time to wait, so I’d expect them to trade that pick to acquire a player who can step into their line-up right away.

Maybe it’s a defenseman, or maybe it’s a goaltender, but expect the Leafs to move their first-round pick by October 6.

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