The Toronto Maple Leafs went shopping at the trade deadline leaving them with just three draft picks for the upcoming draft. We explore what they have left.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a roster that can and will compete for the Stanley Cup this year. Members of the organization and fans alike should all be excited by the prospect that Toronto has the talent to go on a deep run in the playoffs. Kyle Dubas did his part by addressing a number of different needs but it was not without a price. Since the maneuvering spared all roster players but Alexander Barabanov, it meant that the general manager had to use draft picks to get the job done.
According to CapFriendly, The Leafs are now left with only three selections in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. They spent their first and fourth-round picks to get Nick Foligno, a leader and capable defender that will give the team even more depth to their forward lineup.
It cost the Leafs their second-round pick in a Feb 2020 trade that we graded highly. It saw both Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell join the Buds.
Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Pick Inventory
Toronto may need to also send their sixth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators. In the trade last year that saw the Sens acquire Aaron Luchuk for Max Veronneau, the Leafs had to attach a conditional draft pick. If Veronneau, a 25-year-old, undrafted, right-winger, who is now playing for IK Oskarshamn in Sweden, had played 10 games for the Leafs last season or this one, then Toronto would give Ottawa their sixth-round selection. That won’t happen, so the Leafs will keep the pick.
The Boston Bruins will be using Maple Leafs’ seventh-round pick after the two teams swapped picks for that round. Toronto got the Bruins’ selection for last year’s draft in exchange for giving up this year’s pick. The Leafs used the draft choice to select Ryan Tverberg. The 19-year-old center is currently having a good season with the University of Connecticut.
This leaves the Maple Leafs with a second, fifth, and sixth-round pick in 2021. 2022 doesn’t get much better for the club. They again hold just three picks for that draft. Fortunately, they still own their first and second-round selections in 2022.
Their third pick will either be in the sixth or seventh round depending on the number of games Riley Nash plays in the 2021 playoffs. The Columbus Blue Jackets will get Toronto’s sixth-round pick if Nash plays at least a quarter of the Leafs’ playoff games. If he doesn’t then Columbus gets the Leafs’ seventh-round pick.
If ever there was a time to push those draft chips into the middle of the table, it’s now. With a roster that’s composed of elite talent and accomplished veterans, the Leafs made the right choice in emptying the cupboards to chase the Cup. Hopefully, this is their year.