Toronto Maple Leafs: Do Cup Contenders Trade Draft Picks at Deadline?
By Mike Jack
The Florida Panthers vs the Toronto Maple Leafs
The only team with a second round draught longer than the Toronto Maple Leafs is the Florida Panthers. Florida became Stanley Cup contenders last season where they finished second in the Central Division behind the Carolina Hurricane.
The Panthers are currently the top team in the NHL standings and are tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the third best points per game in the NHL.
Florida did make a few moves to bolster their line-up around the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline acquiring pending UFA’s Sam Bennett and Brandon Montour, and a sixth round pick for a second round pick, a third round pick and Emil Heineman (second round pick in 2020). Though Bennett and Montour where UFA’s, the Panthers were able to sign both players to extensions.
They managed to keep their 2021 first round pick to select Mackie Samoskevich 24th overall, but they’ve already traded their 2022 first rounder along with Team Canada’s starting goalie at the 2021 World Juniors, Devon Levi, to the Buffalo Sabres for Sam Reinhart.
For the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Panthers still have their third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh picks along with Calgary’s sixth. They also have all of their 2023 picks as well as Arizona’s seventh.
The Florida Panthers traded picks at the deadline for playoff help, and much like the Toronto Maple Leafs, they suffered from a first round elimination.