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# Sunday FTB: A New Hope
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/a-new-hope-for-the-maple-leafs-the-prequels/
- Published: 2024-06-30T10:00:21.000Z
- Updated: 2024-06-30T13:25:47.000Z
- Description: The Leafs have a whole new crop of prospects, oh and apparently Chris Tanev too.
- Author: Species
- Tags: From The Branches

If you're catching up on the events of the weekend, it was eventful for the Leafs. The team traded down their first round pick, though still stayed in that round and with their first selection at #31 picked defenceman Ben Danford. We have more on him here:

[Getting to Know Ben DanfordLooking at the scouting reports, highlights, and mechanics for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ newest top prospect, the right handed defenseman Ben Danford from the Oshawa Generals.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/size/w256h256/format/png/2023/04/pension-plan-min.svg)PPP LeafsBrian S![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500380804539-4e1e8c1e7118?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDEzfHxiaWclMjBiZW58ZW58MHx8fHwxNzE5NjM5NzgyfDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/getting-to-know-ben-danford/)

Though that he would eventually be a Leaf was determined long ago.

> Since birth ☝️[@danford\_ben](https://twitter.com/danford%5Fben?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/LPSESLiSL8](https://t.co/LPSESLiSL8?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) [June 29, 2024](https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1807045272419332529?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

There was another trade down in Round #2, so the Leafs only selections on the second day of the draft were in the later rounds, though there were a lot of them, and you can find a consolidation of our coverage of each draft pick here:

[Draft Day 2 Recap: Leafs PicksCheck out the new prospects.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/size/w256h256/format/png/2023/04/pension-plan-min.svg)PPP LeafsCathy Squires![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/size/w1200/2024/06/photo-1541253227331-5d8857b020c1.jpeg)](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/draft-day-2-recap-leafs-picks/)

We get a breather today before free agency opens up tomorrow, and it already sounds like the big piece to be signed by the Leafs is Chris Tanev as they traded for his rights yesterday with the Stars and gave up prospect Max Ellis in the process.

[Leafs about to sign Chris TanevBut for what kind of contract?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/size/w256h256/format/png/2023/04/pension-plan-min.svg)PPP LeafsCathy Squires![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1607647075471-9e457b4f7e38?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDN8fDQwc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3MTk2OTE1MDB8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/leafs-about-to-sign-chris-tanev/)

But you can hear from the GM himself in this video:

In other free agency news, Stamkos is going to market again.

> In his post-draft zoom call, TB GM Julien BriseBois said he met with Steven Stamkos’s agent, Don Meehan on Saturday.   
>  
> Key quote: “Our respective positions haven't changed following today's trades.”  
>  
> So, Stamkos headed to market on Monday.
> 
> — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) [June 29, 2024](https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1807171163497623994?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Jeff Skinner will apparently be bought out with a big dollar buyout from the Sabres.

> Jeff Skinner has 3 years remaining on his contract, resulting in a buyout that would span six years.  
>  
> The breakdown is as follows:  
>  
> 24-25: $1,444,445  
> 25-26: $4,444,445  
> 26-27: $6,444,445  
> 27-28: $2,444,445  
> 28-29: $2,444,445  
> 29-30: $2,444,445  
>  
> A buyout saves [#LetsGoBuffalo](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBuffalo?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)…
> 
> — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) [June 29, 2024](https://twitter.com/CapFriendly/status/1807144106876928218?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

But will he ever be the old, err, younger Jeff Skinner?

> Jeff Skinner had a horror year, especially defensively, but I think he'll be return to his true form next season, or close to it. [pic.twitter.com/KSZ6SkuRur](https://t.co/KSZ6SkuRur?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) [June 29, 2024](https://twitter.com/IneffectiveMath/status/1807141125033205890?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And the still unnamed Utah team made the biggest trade of the day.

> Holy moly we got a banger of a trade. Mikhail Sergachev is off to Utah for JJ Moser, Connor Geekie and picks - hot damn. Utah gets a No. 1 defenseman and Sergachev gets to be a No. 1 at long last.
> 
> — Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) [June 29, 2024](https://twitter.com/JoeYerdon/status/1807078382892622052?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

It's going to be a big Canada Day tomorrow. You never know what could happen. Qualifying Offers to RFAs are due today so stay tuned for news on who the Leafs might let go as free agents.