The Toronto Maple Leafs are set up nicely with a stockpile of draft choices in 2016, but it is likely that the club’s management will endeavor to add more as future assets before the February 29th trade deadline and the NHL Draft next June in Buffalo, NY.
After years of being at a disadvantage without top draft choices because of the blockbuster deal for Phil Kessel or stop gap acquisitions for Peter Holland or Dave Bolland, Toronto has all of their own picks for 2016 and could have up to four additional selections.
The Leafs obtained New Jersey’s third rounder from Pittsburgh as part of the Kessel deal, as well as Anaheim’s fifth rounder for Korbinian Holzer and Eric Brewer’s salary dump and the St. Louis Blues sixth rounder for Olli Jokinen and could have an extra first round pick if the Pittsburgh Penguins make the playoffs.
Most of the signings (P-A Parenteau, Shawn Matthias, Daniel Winnik, Matt Hunwick and Brad Boyes), additions made via trade (pending UFA’s Nick Spaling and Michael Grabner) and holdovers Roman Polak and James Reimer are candidates for rental deals at the deadline as the club.
The asking price for low salaried rentals with many teams near their budget or close to the cap limit could provide Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello some leverage in getting a higher return for the suddenly productive Parenteau and Reimer or a solid defensive-minded blueliner like Polak.
With 10 or 11 picks next June, Toronto might be willing to take draft picks more than a year out, as they did in the Winnik deal last February.
After trading their 2015 first rounder to Edmonton for David Perron, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford did want to trade their second in the same draft year, so the Leafs received Pittsburgh’s 4th in 2015 and 2nd in 2016(since traded back in the Kessel deal). Teams are likely to give up a lower pick in an upcoming draft and a higher pick in a draft two years away, since they have time to fill that hole with another deal down the line.
The club also has over $6 Million in available cap space to take back salary in trades and could have more room if they move injured defenseman Stephane Robidas to LTIR.
Toronto will be motivated to make deals of this nature. The club has to provide a third round pick to Detroit and New Jersey over the next three seasons as compensation for the signings of Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello and also has to create space on the roster for their youngsters William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen and Mitch Marner and potential free agent signings pushing to make the NHL as soon as next season.
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The Leafs take on the Boston Bruins in the second of their home-and-home match at Air Canada Center on Monday. The Bruins earned a 2-0 victory at TD Garden on Saturday, as defenseman Zdeno Chara scored the game-winner with 3:43 left in regulation.
Tuukka Rask made 22 saves for his sixth win and second shutout of the season and will be in goal for Boston and James Reimer will start for Toronto.
Reimer will be making his 11th start in the last 12 games and third in four nights.
Daniel Winnik looks to be a scratch on Monday in favor of the returning Nick Spaling. The veteran forward has been less noticeable since suffering a leg injury in Washington on November 7, with just one assist in six games.
Boston claimed center Landon Ferraro from the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday and the 24-year-old joined the Bruins for the morning skate in Toronto, but it is unclear whether he will play on Monday.
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