Last year’s NHL Entry Draft was expected to be a disappointment as soon as the trade of the first-round pick to get out of the Marleau contract was made official. But Kyle Dubas got a first rounder back for Kasperi Kapanen, and it turned out to be a very full couple of days as the Leafs drafted 12 players. It’s safe to say they won’t be drafting 12 this summer.
Draft Pick Inventory
After the trades of the last few days, the Leafs have the following picks left for 2021 (all their own original picks):
- second round
- fifth round
- sixth round - this pick has a condition on it that is impossible to fulfill, so the Leafs will keep it/
The Leafs also dipped heavily into next year’s supply too. So the 2022 picks (all their own original picks) are:
- first round
- second round
- sixth or seventh round - this pick is contitional on how much Riley Nash plays, but the Leafs will give up one of them and keep the other/
The full complement of 2023 picks are accounted for.
Contract Space
The trading left the Leafs with a lot more players under contract than they started with. They have 49 of an allowed 50 SPCs on the books, as well as a 50th in Mikhail Abramov, who doesn’t count against the limit while in junior hockey.
Any contracts signed for next season do not count until next season begins. So if the Leafs want to sign Rodion Amirov, they can.
Some trading to create contract flexibility before the entry draft should be expected. Some picks could be acquired at the same time.
The only player to leave the Leafs was Alex Barabanov, so all the prospects that Dubas was willing to trade are still here, ready to play in the NHL like Nick Robertson, who is subbing in for Barabanov this evening.