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Will Leafs Pounce On Other Teams Problems? Draft Tidbits |
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are not only be looking for young building blocks in the NHL Draft, they are also looking to take advantage of current situations throughout the league that can bring in potential impact players.
While the exodus of players from the KHL , those who fell through the cracks playing in Europe (like the reported interest in SHL leading scorer Derek Ryan) or unsigned draft picks (like University of Michigan leading scorer Zach Hyman) are areas where Toronto could add talent without having to give up any assets, the real chance for Brendan Shanahan to facilitate the rebuild is via trade.
The Jonathan Drouin scenario in Tampa Bay is likely not going to result in the Lightning shopping the 2013 third overall pick after a disappointing rookie season and sitting most of the playoffs, but there is no way to know whether the damage is irreparable between the 20-year-old and head coach John Cooper.
The LA Kings are in cap difficulties and have to re-sign RFA Tyler Toffoli and make room to sign star center Anzi Kopitar a long-term extension before next summer and buying out Mike Richards and saying goodbye to veterans Jarret Stoll, Justin Williams and Robyn Regehr may not create enough room.
The Ryan O’Reilly era in Colorado appears to be reaching a conclusion, as the indications are that the former Lady Byng Trophy nominee is looking for a seven-year deal in excess of $7 Million per season. The Avalanche are looking to move O’Reilly with one year remaining on his current deal for help on the blueline and names like Dion Phaneuf and Jake Gardiner would make sense in a potential deal.
O’Reilly’s name was continually connected to the Leafs during the Brian Burke/Dave Nonis era with the Leafs, but it is unclear whether Shanahan and the new management staff have as much interest the Colorado center.
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There will likely be a wait before Leafs fans get a chance to see recently signed forward Andreas Johnson play in North America. The 2013 seventh round pick was inked to a three-year entry-level deal by Toronto on Thursday, but contractual obligations for another season with Frolunda of the SHL will probably keep the 20-year-old winger in Sweden for another year.
“I wasn’t here when Andreas was drafted, but to have seen him and hear back from Scott Pellerin(the Leafs newly named Director of Player Development), it’s clear he’s made strides,” Assistant GM Kyle Dubas said to the Toronto Sun’s
Lance Hornby. “We wanted to get him locked in with a contract.”
Johnson won the SHL Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 and finished fifth in the league with 22 goals last season, but the expectation is that he will need to get stronger and more defensively aware to be ready to play in the NHL. Due to an agreement between the SHL and NHL, the 5’10” 183lb speedster will be free to participate in the Leafs rookie scrimmages in early July and training camp in September, but Johnson would have to make the NHL roster to not go back to Sweden.
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With less than three weeks to go till the NHL Draft, the dilemma involving the Maple Leafs continues on two fronts. Who will be there after Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Arizona’s pick are made?
TSN’s Bob McKenzie revealed his final draft rankings on Friday and the top three picks; McDavid, Eichel and Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin occupy the same spot they have been since last September. The interesting change is at #4, where London’s Mitch Marner has moved ahead of Erie center Dylan Strome. Sarnia center Pavel Zacha, Kingston winger Lawson Crouse, Brandon blueliner Ivan Provorov, Seattle center Matthew Barzal and Finnish winger Mikko Rantanen round out the top 10.
The direction of the speculation coming from the NHL Draft Combine is that Arizona is leaning towards Strome at #3, leaving the Leafs to choose between Hanifin and Marner. Most of the intangibles point towards Marner, the highly skilled, leading scorer of the OHL’s London Knights developed under current Toronto Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter, but the concern is Marner’s 5’11”, 161lb frame has his ability to play center in the NHL.
The list has Swedish defenseman Oliver Kylington at #24 where the Leafs select with the pick obtained from Nashville. Kylington was ranked in the top 10 in most pre-season draft and has excellent skating ability but a lack of offensive production has him plummeting to the point where some question whether he will fall out of the first round.
Sportsnet’s Damien Cox indicates that Toronto is looking at three highly skilled options for the lower pick; Charlottetown winger Daniel Sprong, US National Team product Colin White and Ottawa 67 forward Travis Konecny.
Sprong is a 6’0” 180lb native of Amsterdam known for his speed, puck handling ability and offensive chops who scored 69 goals in two seasons in the QMJHL.
White is a solid all-around player who struggled with injury issues as a 17-year-old, but is known for his intelligence on the ice and a high compete level.
Konecny was the star of last January’s top prospect game and plays much bigger than his 5’10” 175lb frame, but durability and speed are question marks that could drop the center from his ranking in the teens to where the Leafs draft in the mid-20’s.
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