Three weeks from tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will make the first overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY.
There is little suspense regarding who will be the top pick, as Auston Matthews will be putting a Blue and White jersey, but what GM Lou Lamoriello and Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter do after in the days preceding and immediately after the weekend in Western New York could determine how long the rebuild will take.
It is time once again to answer the questions utmost on the minds of Leafs Nation from the wonderful world of Twitter.
A - Anything is feasible, but a jump of 20 or more draft slots would mean swapping a large package of draft picks and/or prospects. There is a good probability that Toronto would explore trading up, since they have 12 picks this year and eight more in 2017 and 2018, but moving into the top 10 would likely cost at least a couple of the seven second-round picks they have the next three drafts or a young top prospect like Kasperi Kapanen.
There has been some chatter that Toronto has interest in Alex Nylander, but he probably have to fall out of the top 10 for the Leafs to consider trading up to get him.
A - Based on the current price for defensemen, the odds are not good that the Leafs will find a top pairing answer in a deal at the draft or free agency. The Vancouver - Florida deal for Erik Gudbranson cost the Canucks a 2016 2nd, 4th and former first round pick Jared McCann. Blueliners on the market like Kevin Shattenkirk(UFA in 2017) and Tyson Barrie (RFA this summer) may attract a first rounder and a good prospect in return, in spite of their contractual status.
Toronto may trade up into the middle of the first round if Charlie McAvoy(Boston U) or Jake Bean(Calgary - WHL) are still around and are hoping that they have found a gem in former KHLer Nikita Zaitsev, but they likely will not be able to fill all their holes in one off-season.
A - It is highly likely that Toronto will draft a goaltender early on the second day of the draft, perhaps with the first pick in the second round (31st overall). The top goalies are Evan Fitzpatrick(QMJHL- Sherbrooke), Carter Hart(WHL- Everett), Tyler Parsons (OHL - London) and Filip Gustavsson(SWE Jr - Lulea), who likely will fall of the board in the second and third round.
Parsons stock went up significantly with the Knights long winning streak through the OHL Playoffs and a good showing at the Memorial Cup. With Mark Hunter knowing the Chesterfield, MI native so well, it makes sense that the Leafs would covet him.
Toronto's organizational depth in goal is quite thin, with Jonathan Bernier, RFA Garret Sparks, Antoine Bibeau and free agent signing Kasimir Kaskisuo. The Leafs could pick another goalie later in the draft as a development project who plays in Europe or the NCAA for two or three years before joining the organization.
A - Leafs management put a focus on skill and speed in the 2015 Draft and it is not lost on them that they will have to add players with some grit and sandpaper. If you look at the Red Wings model, there was a balance of skill players (Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg) and energetic role players (Luke Glendening, Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm) and Mike Babcock said at the end of the season that one goal for next season was for his club to be more physical.
Toronto will get bigger with the addition of Matthews and potentially UFA Jimmy Vesey and will likely add young prospects with more size, but targeting players in the free agent and trade market will be part of addressing this need.
A - London's JJ Piccinich did not become a free agent on June 1, in spite of the Leafs not signing him to a pro contract two years after being drafted. The reason is that the 19-year-old winger played his first season after being drafted at Boston University. The year in the NCAA delayed the signing window one year, so he would have to be signed before next June.
Piccinich turns 20 on June 12th and could play an overage year for the Knights or sign an NHL contract and play for the Toronto Marlies.
A - The two most likely trade candidates before or at the draft would be Tyler Bozak and Peter Holland.
Bozak is a likely victim of the numbers game at center with Nazem Kadri signed to a long-term deal, the selection of Matthews and the possible addition of Steven Stamkos in free agency. With two years left at $4.2 Million and an effective 2nd - 3rd line center option, Bozak could bring back a good draft pick or a defenseman/goalie in return.
Holland is an RFA and may not be part of the Leafs plans with young players like Connor Brown, Zach Hyman and Nikita Soshnikov pushing for roster spots next season.
A - It is safe to assume that with Toronto having 12 picks, that they move a couple of them in some sort of trade. It may be trade up if they see a player high on their board available or for a player who has to be moved for contract reasons or salary cap issues.
The main contributing factor goalies being available this summer could be the expected announcement of Las Vegas getting an expansion franchise. Teams with two goalies and being able to protect one may make names like Marc-Andre Fleury, Frederik Andersen, Calvin Pickard and Jake Allen available for a trade and for less cost than many would think.
A - There is no backup plan if Stamkos stays in Tampa or signs some place other than Toronto. He is a unique talent that comes available once every decade. If the Leafs do not sign him, their rebuild will simply take longer.
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