The Toronto Maple Leafs will be selecting fourth overall at the NHL Draft this June, will be searching for a new general manager, a head coach and are expected to make a slew of roster changes this summer. With all of that uncertainty in front of the club, it is time to take some of your questions and discuss what lies ahead.
@MikeInBuffalo can you give us some insight as to potential targets with Nashvilles pick?
— Ryan (@Bounce7) April 20, 2015A – First it has to be determined where the Nashville pick ends up, as it is based on when they make their exit from the post-season. With Shea Weber out and trailing the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in the series, it is becoming likely that the Preds will not make it out of the first round and their pick would end up in the low 20’s.
Another factor is who the Leafs end up taking with the #4 pick. If they select Noah Hanifin, it is more likely that they will go with the best forward, while if they pick Dylan Strome or Mitch Marner, that could increase the odds of selecting a defenseman.
Total stabs in the dark here, but two forwards who the Leafs might pick if they’re there….Travis Konecny of the Ottawa 67’s or Nicholas Merkley of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, both small, quick and highly skilled. On defense, Toronto could go with Swede blueliner Oliver Kylington, which surely will be welcomed as a great pick by Don Cherry.
Do not be surprised if there is not someone who blows their socks off that the Leafs trade down and get an extra pick and you also have to factor in the possibility that they get another first in a potential deal for Dion Phaneuf or Phil Kessel.
@MikeInBuffalo Do you think by trading one of our bigger core pieces (ie kessel) we can get a 2nd top 10 draft pick?
— Chris Manos (@cmanos17) April 20, 2015@MikeInBuffalo Will Strome be available at 4 now with edmonton going mcdavid?
— James (@Xentheous) April 20, 2015A - That will be the question everyone will be asking for the next two months. McDavid to Edmonton and Jack Eichel to the Buffalo Sabres are etched in stone, but it is unknown whether Arizona favors Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin or Strome at pick #3.
The Leafs could try to deal with the Coyotes to move up if they have both players ranked similarly, but if Arizona takes Strome, the Leafs could go with Hanifin or perhaps London center Mitch Marner.
@MikeInBuffalo Thoughts on Leafs/Oilers working out a deal around Bernier/Phaneuf. Long shot but Draisaitl?
— Darren Alley (@DarrenAlley) April 20, 2015A - It makes sense that the Oilers would choose to deal one of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Leon Draisaitl to make room for Connor McDavid, but they do not have to, as they could choose to play Draisaitl in the AHL next season.
Edmonton needs a goaltender and there were some rumors during the season of interest in Bernier, but they could add an experienced netminder like Antti Niemi via free agency instead of trading young assets. In spite of Phaneuf being from Edmonton, there has been every indication in the past that the Oilers are a team that he would accept a trade too. Perhaps now with McDavid destined for Alberta, Dion would be open to the possibility but I somehow doubt it.
@MikeInBuffalo Lou the ref here, should the leafs take the BPA or organizational need with first 2 picks. No centres with skill in system.
— Lou DeMatteo (@Lou_DeMatteo) April 20, 2015A - With the Leafs going through a extensive teardown, that means going for the best player available regardless of position. That being said, if Strome is gone to Arizona, it is possible that Toronto thinks more of Marner's game-breaking offensive ability than Hanifin's potential as a future top pairing mate with Morgan Rielly.
William Nylander has played mostly wing with the Toronto Marlies, but after playing both center and wing in the SHL earlier this year, it could be the plan to move him to the middle as he gets stronger and more aware defensively.
@MikeInBuffalo With so much needed to be done in the next short while, don't u think hiring a GM should happen sooner rather than later?
— Greg Smith (@GSmith2011) April 20, 2015A - Brendan Shanahan indicated at his press conference last week that he would prefer to have his choice for GM in place prior to the Draft, but that is not a prerequisite as Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas are running things on an interim basis. What is important to the Leafs Team President is to find someone who is a good fit in the current managerial structure, which means someone who is accepting of Shanahan's input on a day-to-day basis and the involvement of Hunter and Dubas in talent evaluation.
@MikeInBuffalo Is Ryan O'Reilly (24) an option for the Leafs? Is this a direction you see the team going or will they stick to draft picks?
— T-revor (@Zeon99) April 20, 2015A - O'Reilly has been connected to the Leafs in rumors often and with his tenuous contract status, the Avs forward could be obtainable this summer. The 24-year-old is signed for another season at $6 Million but he will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year.
Based on the fact that the Clinton, ON native has signed an offer sheet with Calgary and squabbled with Colorado about a bridge deal in the last two years, it is highly likely that he will fly the coop after the 2015-16 season. With their glaring need for blueline help, the Avs could be a landing spot for Phaneuf.
@MikeInBuffalo w/ Leafs in full #Shanaplan mode, what if any free agents do u see #Leafs going after? Are Winnick/Santorelli/Franson likely?
— HockeyNightInBelfast (@HockeyNIBelfast) April 20, 2015A - The Leafs are likely to do what they did last summer and add players on short term deals, so they can flip them at next year's trade deadline for draft picks and prospects, but it is unlikely that Santorelli and/or Winnik would be willing to sign one-year deals again.
Franson has seen significantly less ice time and power play opportunities in Nashville, which is going to hurt his chances of getting a big dollar deal in free agency this summer. Toronto's half-hearted offer before trading the big blueliner in February was for three years, at less than $4.5 Million per season. He likely will get more years and dollars on the open market this July.
@MikeInBuffalo who do you think graduates from the AHL next year
— à“ Grà¡dhaigh (@Ydargo_76) April 20, 2015A - Sam Carrick, Josh Leivo, Stuart Percy and Petter Granberg. Connor Brown, William Nylander and Brendan Leipsic all stay at least the first half of next season in the AHL.
@MikeInBuffalo No Edmonton won't trade #1 pick, but could Buffalo be convinced to swap pick #2 with the Leafs, and for how much?
— Chris Forde (@Forde4Ward10) April 20, 2015A - One word answer........No!
Q -(from Lumlums in the comments) With the recent firing of Todd McLellan in San Jose, do you think that the Buds make a move for him, or still hold out hope of trying to lure Babcock to the Big Smoke?
A - The Leafs appear to be waiting until they have a chance to talk to Babcock before they move on to other options. One of those options might be McLellan, but his parting of the ways today might mean that he is ready to sign on with another team like Philadelphia or Edmonton before departing for Europe and the World Championships next week.
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