With the Maple Leafs not having a second-round pick until 2027 and an anticipated unwillingness to move their first-round pick, their trade chips are certainly limited. Accordingly, Chris Johnston of The Athletic noted on a recent TSN Insider Trading segment that Toronto has gone with a volume approach when it comes to offering up draft picks for rentals; clearly, nothing has materialized in terms of an accepted trade yet. They have two extra fifth-round picks and an extra seventh-rounder among their nine selections in June so if they are indeed trying to move some of those extra picks, they’ll likely be forced to shop more towards the depth side of the trade market.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- With Buffalo being in a spot where they were carrying three goalies for a good chunk of the season, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News wonders if that could affect their pursuit of a veteran netminder this summer. If it’s determined that Devon Levi needs more time with AHL Rochester, it stands to reason that the Sabres would want a veteran on a short-term deal to partner with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. However, most of the quality second-string or platoon options will be looking for more than one year on the open market so Lysowski suggests that they might have to turn to the trade market to get a netminder on a short-term deal.
- Red Wings winger Robby Fabbri will return to the lineup today against Calgary, relays Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News (Twitter link). The 28-year-old missed Thursday’s contest due to the birth of his daughter. When healthy, Fabbri has been a capable secondary scorer for Detroit this season, collecting 13 goals and eight assists in 39 games so far, surpassing the half-point-per-game mark for the fifth straight year.
What’s the over under on Fabbri getting hurt again? I will be generous a give him a week.
The Leafs have way too many holes to justify emptying an already sparse cupboard.
They need a first line LW to bump Knies down, an upgrade at 3rd line C so Domi can play wing, and at least two more d-men. And then cross your fingers that Woll-Samsonov can be a capable enough playoff tandem.
Dubas left them without draft capital and Treliving completely botched free agency. Best to keep the assets and try again this summer.
You are correct!
Ya it’s the NHL, every team has holes in a cap world. Yes the Leafs have holes. So what. So does every other team. The goal every season is to make the playoffs and hope to get hot at the right time. The issue with the Leafs is they don’t have enough sand paper to play and win in the playoffs when the referees put their whistles away and the goons run supreme.
But yes, Dubas was the dufous who left the cupboards bare, no denying that part.
Funny how Yzerman sees value in Fabbri but not Hronek.
I don’t know but there might have been some contract, or future contract implications involved.