Hello everyone, it's the end of another school year and the start of the summer for many, but the NHL summer silly season is already well underway and in strong form. Already in just a week 8 first round picks that will be used tonight have changed teams (one twice) including the 4th overall pick and the 9th overall pick. 11 first round picks are not owned by their original team. And something tells me more is on the horizon.

Due to the liquidity of the market and the loosening equities of this draft class, first round picks are being dished around like candy. Did I do a good job at corporate-speak, John Chayka? Florida acquired a first round pick and then traded it and two more for Brady Tkachuk after he forced a trade. Ottawa then used one of those picks to get William Eklund. Calgary traded away two first round picks (acquired in the Kadri and Andersson trades) for Simon Nemec. Another first round pick was used in the Kyrou for McMichael trade. Chicago traded away the 4th overall pick for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway (they didn't even get a winger for Bedard!)

All the while, the Leafs have made moves but have kept their first overall selection, and John Chayka said yesterday that they will most likely keep the pick and they know who they're going to take. That doesn't mean the Leafs haven't been in any trade rumours. They've definitely been out there looking to get another high pick. They've dangled Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly, and most recently Brandon Carlo. I can see either defender on the move after the Raddysh acquisition, and I can definitely see Knies on the move especially with the rumour that Toronto (and Montreal) are in on Mason Marchment. Remembering Montreal almost acquired Knies if not for a reported clerical error from Brad Treliving at the trade deadline.

I have to think something is going to happen tonight. To me, I'm looking at Buffalo (who are also the host of the draft this year). They have two first round picks, 4th overall from Chicago and 20th overall from Edmonton. They also just lost Alex Tuch to Washington in a sign-and-trade, they might be looking at Matthew Knies to fill that hole instead. However, something tells me they're in on Jason Robertson right now. Robertson, by the way, rejected a contract from Seattle and St. Louis. Maybe Buffalo and their 4th overall pick makes everyone happy. Kidding, Buffalo makes no one happy.

What's so interesting to me about the Knies trade talks is that all the teams that have been rumoured to want him have also been in the sweepstakes for players who I think are better than Knies (Robertson, Tuch, Marchment) so it's leaning me in the direction that Knies has more percieved value than he may actually have, which is something the Leafs can exploit.

There are just so many moving parts. So many intertwined fates.

Draft order (as of Thursday night):

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs (via ball #12)
  2. San Jose Sharks
  3. Vancouver Canucks
  4. Buffalo Sabres (via Chicago)
  5. New York Rangers
  6. Calgary Flames
  7. Seattle Kraken
  8. Winnipeg Jets
  9. San Jose Sharks (via Ottawa via Florida)
  10. Nashville Predators
  11. St. Louis Blues
  12. New Jersey Devils
  13. New York Islanders
  14. Columbus Blue Jackets
  15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit)
  16. St. Louis Blues (via Washington)
  17. Los Angeles Kings
  18. Washington Capitals (via Anaheim)
  19. Utah Mammoth
  20. Buffalo Sabres (via San Jose via Edmonton)
  21. Philadelphia Flyers
  22. Pittsburgh Penguins
  23. Boston Bruins
  24. Vancouver Canucks (via Minnesota)
  25. Ottawa Senators (via Florida via Seattle via Tampa Bay)
  26. New York Rangers (via Carolina via Dallas)
  27. San Jose Sharks (via Buffalo)
  28. Montreal Canadiens
  29. St. Louis Blues (via NY Islanders via Colorado)
  30. Calgary Flames (via Vegas)
  31. Carolina Hurricanes
  32. Ottawa Senators (via Evgenii Dadonov)

To recap, STL has 4 picks, SJS has 3 picks, 5 teams have two picks, 14 teams have 1 pick, 11 teams have no picks, and the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup without trading the first overall pick this year.

Who the Leafs take first overall might not be the most interesting thing to happen by the end of the night, but if it's not that I'm sure we'll find a way into the spotlight. We always do. Let's see what happens! Enjoy the draft everyone!

Until then, memories of the last draft in Buffalo:

NHL Draft