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NHL ruling clarifies status of conditional picks

May 31, 2020, 11:11 AM ET [421 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The National Hockey League’s decision to implement a 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs also required the league to resolve other aspects of their normal operating procedures. The league chose to keep most of the rules in the Draft Lottery the same (except that the eight teams eliminated in the play-in round possibly moving up into the top three of the first round), but other things like statistics and games played in the qualifying round counting towards contract bonuses or free agent status have not yet been determined.

One thing the NHL did resolve this week was the status of conditional deals.

Earlier this month, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the league would provide their own solution to these deals and give the two clubs a week to negotiate and come up with their own solution or accept the NHL’s idea, but according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, a memo this week informed clubs that teams eliminated from the play-in round would be considered as not making the playoffs.

For the Leafs, the deal last June that sent Patrick Marleau to Carolina and by connection the trade that involving Brady Skjei from the NY Rangers to the Hurricanes would fall under this.

Toronto dealt the veteran winger to clear his $6.25 Million cap hit for this season for a conditional first rounder. If the Leafs pick ended up in the top 10 of the 2020 Draft, then they would keep it and Carolina would receive their 2021 pick.

If the Leafs lose their best-of-five play-in series against Columbus, the only way that they would keep their top pick would be if a) they lose to the Blue Jackets, b) one of the eight non-playoffs does not get awarded one of the top three picks in Phase 1 of the Draft Lottery on June 26, and c) Toronto wins Phase 2 after the end of the first round.

The memo also clarifies other conditional deals that Toronto made.

The trade with Los Angeles involving Trevor Moore for goalie Jack Campbell and winger Kyle Clifford included a conditional 2021 third-round pick that would be upgraded to a 2021 second-rounder if either the Leafs make the playoffs this season and Campbell wins six regular season games or Clifford re-signs with Toronto.

Campbell had a 3-2-1 record after joining the Leafs and with the NHL officially ending the regular season, that condition cannot be met. The only way that the conditional pick can be upgraded is if Toronto chooses to re-sign Clifford after the season.

The Leafs minor trade with Ottawa swapping forwards Aaron Luchuk for Max Veronneau included a conditional 2021 sixth round pick going to the Sens if Veronneau played 10 games for the Leafs this season or in 2020-21. Since the 2019-20 regular season is done, the condition moves to Veronneau playing 10 NHL games for the Leafs next season.

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