3 Hypothetical Trades Involving Toronto Maple Leafs 1st Round Pick

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The Toronto Maple Leafs should trade their first-round pick this year in order to make a big splash this offseason.

As it currently stands, the Toronto Maple Leafs have three picks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, including the 25th overall pick.

I understand that you need draft picks to develop in your system, but why do the Leafs need any picks this year? What is the 25th overall selection or a seventh round pick really going to do for them for the 2022-23 or 2023-24 season?

Absolutely, nothing.

NBA team’s mortgage the future every single year to win NOW and the Leafs need to have that philosophy. Auston Matthews is a UFA in two seasons, so this team needs to think about finally winning a playoff series and building an unbelievable roster around him, so that he wants to sign his extension as early as next offseason.

The Leafs already tanked, rebuilt their roster and are set up to be successful now. However, they’re missing a few pieces to get them over the edge.

Whether that’s another talented top-six winger, or a number-one goaltender, the Leafs could use a few more players to win now. And with that being said, their first-round pick could be a very valuable asset to help them improve for the 2022-23 season.

Here are three trades that could help the Leafs.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – DECEMBER 01: J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on December 01, 2021 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /

No. 1: J.T Miller

The Trade:

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: J.T. Miller
Vancouver Canucks acquire: 2022 1st Round Pick, Alex Kerfoot and Nick Robertson

The Canucks have priced themselves out of being able to afford J.T Miller after this season, so the team may be inclined to trade him to get an asset before he walks out for free.

Vancouver is a fringe playoff-team, so although Miller would help their chances, acquiring a first-round pick, top-nine forward in Kerfoot and potential top-six winger in Robertson could really intrigue them.

Robertson’s skill is something that any team would want to acquire, but it’s his contract that makes him more valuable as he has cost-certainty for the next two years.

Although you never want to lose a potential player like Robertson, Toronto would be trading for someone who they know is really good, right now. Robertson may be really good next year, or he may be terrible. Nobody really knows at this point, but at least with Miller, you know you’re getting a guaranteed 20-goal scorer and someone who has the potential of scoring a point-per game.

During his last three seasons, he has 74 goals and 217 points in 202 games played, so it’s not like his 2021-22 season was a fluke. Miller has continued to show that he’s a perfect top-six forward and at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, he’d bring a different element to Toronto’s top-six.

Who cares if you can’t afford to pay him after this year. Make the trade, improve the roster and give yourself a better opportunity to win today.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 15: Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks . (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Alex DeBrincat

The Trade:

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Alex DeBrincat
Chicago Blackhawks acquire: Petr Mrazek, Nick Robertson and 2022 1st Round Pick

It’s been reported that the Blackhawks may trade DeBrincat if they “can get a top-10 pick and a quality prospect.”

Although the Leafs don’t have a top-10 selection, they do have an intriguing prospect that the Blackhawks may be interested in. In a perfect world, Nick Robertson is just a younger DeBrincat, so Chicago could move the 24-year-old for a younger version of himself and save themselves a ton of money.

The Leafs would be taking a risk, but they’d at least be able to trade for one year of a player who they know is a fantastic NHLer already.

At 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, DeBrincat is small in stature, but he puts up huge points every night. He has 307 points in 368 career games and already has two 40-plus goal seasons in the NHL. He’s one of the best pure-goal scorers in the league and if paired beside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, they could make the most lethal line in hockey.

Within this trade package, the Blackhawks would be getting a high-end prospect, a first-round pick and a goaltender. You may think the Mrazek piece is a just a throw-in, but Chicago doesn’t have a goaltender right now, so Mrazek is the perfect number-one goalie for them as they look to start their rebuild.

ST PAUL, MN – MAY 10: Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues . (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Jordan Binnington

The Trade:

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Jordan Binnington
St. Louis Blues acquire: 2022 1st Round Pick, Jake Muzzin and Mikhail Abramov

The St. Louis Blues have a little salary cap room left for next year, but they may be inclined to trade Jordan Binnington if they sign Ville Husso to an extension.

Binnington has won with the Blues before, but the Blues may think that Husso is their goaltender of the future, so if that’s the case, it could cause some internal struggles to keep both, thus making Binnington available.

If the Blues re-sign Husso before the NHL Entry Draft, they’ll be in a great position to capitalize, as teams will be lining up for Binnington’s services. The Richmond Hill, ON native went from a nobody to a Stanley Cup winner overnight and could be the piece that Toronto is missing.

His 2022 NHL Playoffs numbers were phenomenal as he posted a 1.72 GAA and .949 SV% and has proved in the past that he can be a Stanley Cup winning goaltender.

Also, as a local kid, you’d think that will motivate him even more to be at his best in front of friend’s and family every night.

Next. 3 More Hypothetical Trades. dark

The Toronto Maple Leafs need a star goalie and Binnington could be that player as they look to finally get over the hump and succeed in the playoffs next year.

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