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Leafs swap pick w/Blues, Aaltonen leaving for KHL, Leafs schedule released

June 22, 2018, 12:10 PM ET [1349 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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Leafs GM Kyle Dubas trades the #25 pick to St. Louis, moving down four slots to #29 and adding a third round pick at #76.

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This is not the first time at the rodeo for Kyle Dubas at the NHL Draft. The new Toronto Maple Leafs GM handled the management duties on an interim basis in 2015 after the dismissal of Dave Nonis, but this time around the challenges will be different as the league converges for this year’s Draft at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

The Leafs select 25th in the first round (the lowest first pick they have had since 2010) and will likely pick the best player available on their draft board, but there is expected to be some emphasis on centers and defensemen; the club’s two most glaring areas of need in terms of depth.

“It’s a fluid situation for sure. It’s tough to predict, even with top two picks locked in, what’s going to be there or not at #25.” Dubas said after the GM Meetings at the Fairmont Hotel on Thursday. “We will just be as prepared as possible in be ready for when we get on the floor (Friday) night to see what happens.”

Dubas indicated that he is keeping an open mind regarding his selection in the first, whether that means moving up, moving down for extra picks or possibly moving out his top pick if an opportunity arises to acquire a player that can help his club immediately.

The club was thrown a bit of a curveball on Thursday, as Marlies center Miro Aaltonen indicated through his agent that he intended to return to the KHL after one season in North America.

The 25-year-old has 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 64 games for the Marlies and was a key part of their top line during their run to a Calder Cup title, but Aaltonen’s intent was to play in the NHL when he signed with Toronto last summer and after losing the fourth line center battle to Dominic Moore at training camp, he was sent to the AHL and never recalled during the campaign.

“We had counted on Miro (to) challenge for a spot on the Leafs next year. He was great for the Marlies.” “I don't begrudge his decision whatsoever. I think it makes our situation more lucrative for both centers and wingers in free agency that are may be looking at our situation.”

Aaltonen was expected to battle with SHL import Par Lindholm and possibly Frederik Gauthier for a depth center role on the Leafs, but will be playing higher up in the lineup and make more money returning to Europe. With his departure, Dubas may put more emphasis to adding a center in free agency or explore trade options to boost the club up the middle.

One option is Toronto revisiting the possibility of trying to acquire Luke Glendening from Detroit. The 29-year-old forward is a favorite of head coach Mike Babcock and makes a reasonable $1.8 Million AAV for the next three seasons.

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Here is the Leafs 2018-19 regular season schedule:

Wed. 10/3/18 Montreal 7:00 PM
Sat. 10/6/18 Ottawa 7:00 PM
Sun. 10/7/18 at Chicago 7:00 PM
Tue. 10/9/18 at Dallas 8:30 PM
Thu. 10/11/18 at Detroit 7:30 PM
Sat. 10/13/18 at Washington 7:00 PM
Mon. 10/15/18 Los Angeles 7:30 PM
Thu. 10/18/18 Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Sat. 10/20/18 St. Louis 7:00 PM
Wed. 10/24/18 at Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Sat. 10/27/18 Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Mon. 10/29/18 Calgary 7:00 PM
Thu. 11/1/18 Dallas 7:00 PM
Sat. 11/3/18 at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Tue. 11/6/18 Vegas 7:00 PM
Fri. 11/9/18 New Jersey 7:00 PM
Sat. 11/10/18 at Boston 7:00 PM
Tue. 11/13/18 at Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Thu. 11/15/18 at San Jose 10:30 PM
Fri. 11/16/18 at Anaheim 10:00 PM
Mon. 11/19/18 Columbus 7:00 PM
Wed. 11/21/18 at Carolina 7:00 PM
Fri. 11/23/18 at Columbus 7:00 PM
Sat. 11/24/18 Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Mon. 11/26/18 Boston 7:00 PM
Wed. 11/28/18 San Jose 7:30 PM
Sat. 12/1/18 at Minnesota 7:00 PM
Tue. 12/4/18 at Buffalo 7:00 PM
Thu. 12/6/18 Detroit 7:00 PM
Sat. 12/8/18 at Boston 7:00 PM
Tue. 12/11/18 at Carolina 7:00 PM
Thu. 12/13/18 at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Sat. 12/15/18 at Florida 7:00 PM
Tue. 12/18/18 at New Jersey 7:00 PM
Thu. 12/20/18 Florida 7:00 PM
Sat. 12/22/18 N.Y. Rangers 7:00 PM
Sun. 12/23/18 Detroit 7:30 PM
Fri. 12/28/18 at Columbus 7:00 PM
Sat. 12/29/18 N.Y. Islanders 7:00 PM
Thu. 1/3/19 Minnesota 2:00 PM
Sat. 1/5/19 Vancouver 7:00 PM
Mon. 1/7/19 Nashville 7:00 PM
Thu. 1/10/19 at New Jersey 7:00 PM
Sat. 1/12/19 Boston 7:00 PM
Mon. 1/14/19 Colorado 7:00 PM
Thu. 1/17/19 at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Fri. 1/18/19 at Florida 7:00 PM
Sun. 1/20/19 Arizona 7:00 PM
Wed. 1/23/19 Washington 7:30 PM
Fri. 2/1/19 at Detroit 7:30 PM
Sat. 2/2/19 Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Mon. 2/4/19 Anaheim 7:00 PM
Wed. 2/6/19 Ottawa 7:30 PM
Sat. 2/9/19 at Montreal 7:00 PM
Sun. 2/10/19 at N.Y. Rangers 7:00 PM
Tue. 2/12/19 at Colorado 9:00 PM
Thu. 2/14/19 at Vegas 10:00 PM
Sat. 2/16/19 at Arizona 7:00 PM
Tue. 2/19/19 at St. Louis 8:00 PM
Thu. 2/21/19 Washington 7:00 PM
Sat. 2/23/19 Montreal 7:00 PM
Mon. 2/25/19 Buffalo 7:00 PM
Wed. 2/27/19 Edmonton 7:00 PM
Thu. 2/28/19 at N.Y. Islanders 7:00 PM
Sat. 3/2/19 Buffalo 7:00 PM
Mon. 3/4/19 at Calgary 9:00 PM
Wed. 3/6/19 at Vancouver 9:00 PM
Sat. 3/9/19 at Edmonton 7:00 PM
Mon. 3/11/19 Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Wed. 3/13/19 Chicago 7:00 PM
Fri. 3/15/19 Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Sat. 3/16/19 at Ottawa 7:00 PM
Tue. 3/19/19 at Nashville 8:00 PM
Wed. 3/20/19 at Buffalo 7:00 PM
Sat. 3/23/19 N.Y. Rangers 7:00 PM
Mon. 3/25/19 Florida 7:00 PM
Wed. 3/27/19 at Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Sat. 3/30/19 at Ottawa 7:00 PM
Mon. 4/1/19 at N.Y. Islanders7:00 PM
Tue. 4/2/19 Carolina 7:30 PM
Thu. 4/4/19 Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Sat. 4/6/19 at Montreal 7:00 PM



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