Toronto Maple Leafs: Do Cup Contenders Trade Draft Picks at Deadline?

The Carolina Hurricane vs the Toronto Maple Leafs

Last season, the Carolina Hurricane were Stanley Cup contenders after finishing first in the Central Division.  The also had some playoff success in the 2019 and 2020 playoffs despite finishing fourth in the Metropolitan Division both seasons.

So far this season, they are the top team in the Metropolitan Division and have the second highest points per game in the NHL.  They are still very much Cup contenders.

The Hurricane only made one transaction during last season’s NHL Trade Deadline when they traded Haydn Fleury to the Anaheim Ducks for pending UFA Jani Hakanpää and a 2022 sixth round pick.  It’s interesting that though they were contenders, they actually gained a draft pick at the deadline.

However, Carolina was very active at the 2021 NHL Draft and traded away their first round pick to the Nashville Predators for two second round picks.  In total they traded five 2021 draft picks (a first, a second, two thirds and a fourth), Alex Nedeljkovic and Jake Bean for 11 draft picks (three seconds, four thirds, a fourth, two fifths and a sixth) and the rights to Jonathan Bernier.

For the upcoming draft, the Hurricane no longer have their first round and third round picks because they were given to the Montreal Canadiens as compensation for signing  Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an unmatched offer sheet.  However, they do have Chicago’s third round pick, Anaheim’s sixth round pick and Columbus’ seventh rounder.

Carolina also has all of their 2023 draft picks.  They have don’t have their 2022 first rounder, but the do have a healthy eight picks for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft compared to the three the Toronto Maple Leafs are holding.