The Leafs currently hold the rights to the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Friday.
The Leafs currently hold the rights to the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Friday.
With the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft right around the corner, questions have been circulating around the Toronto Maple Leafs – who currently hold the rights to the 23rd overall pick.
Will they use it? If so, on what position and who? Perhaps what hasn't been as closely focused on is the route of trading the pick, which seems like a legitimate option that is on the table for general manager Brad Treliving.
Before goaltender Jacob Markstrom was shipped off to the New Jersey Devils in a trade made a week ago, the Leafs were runners-up for the former Calgary Flames netminder. According to The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle, the club offered up its first-round pick for the upcoming draft in a package for the Swede.
“The Leafs were runners-up for Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom last week, losing out to the New Jersey Devils despite having what some might consider a better package of assets on the table,” wrote Siegel and Mirtle. “In that offer was Toronto’s first-round pick for the coming draft, which shows just how seriously Treliving was pursuing the upgrade in net.”
As talks continue to swirl about additions on the backend and between the pipes, the Leafs could become aggressive in their pursuit to better level out their roster. Still, without a solution to their goaltending, it seems unlikely they'll find their answer via trade considering Markstrom and Linus Ullmark, among other netminders, are already taken off the board or considered unavailable – but that shouldn't stop them from using it elsewhere.
Defensively, the club is expected to bolster their blueline through free agency with notables Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, Brandon Montour, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, and Matt Roy set to hit the open market. However, with the pick, the Leafs could acquire a substantial defensive upgrade by landing a defenseman via trade.
Treliving has made it clear the areas the team needs to improve this summer and with a first-round pick, they have ammunition to address those demands. The upcoming draft and free agency period will be critical in shaping the future of the Leafs' roster, which is in “win-now” mode.
With the right signings, and potentially impactful trades, the Leafs can transform into a more balanced and competitive roster going forward. As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on Toronto's management to see how they navigate these decisions.
Related
Report: Maple Leafs Running Into Challenges in Exploring Mitch Marner Trade
2024 NHL Draft Mailbag: Second-Day Steals, Jiricek’s Injury and Letourneau’s Upside
News from THN.com
Oilers on the Verge of Becoming the Most Unlikely, Memorable Cup Champs in NHL History
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest on Pavel Buchnevich, Logan Couture and Cam Atkinson
Dallas Stars' Jim Nill Joins Elite Company With GM of the Year Award Win