Insider Reveals Maple Leafs Are Open to Trading Major Asset to get Defenseman

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Graham Montgomery
February 8, 2024 (4:48 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been buyers at the trade deadline for each of the past few seasons. As a result, the team now has a lack of meaningful draft picks in the upcoming seasons. However, that may not stop them from buying again this year.

NHL Insider Reveals Leafs May Trade 1st Round Pick In 2024 Draft

Elliotte Friedman reported today on 32 thoughts that the Leafs may be open to trading their 1st round pick this year. There have been inconsistent reports about the Leafs plans for their picks this season so this is an interesting development for the team. Notably, the Leafs have just two picks inside the top two rounds of the draft over the next three years. They have their 2024 1st round pick and their 2026 1st round pick.

"One exception [to trading their 1st round pick] may be Toronto. If the Maple Leafs trade this year's first, they will have one pick in the top two rounds of the next three drafts (a first-rounder in 2026). It's not impossible they decide to move it, but they definitely prefer the opposite and aren't interested in moving Easton Cowan, Matthew Knies or Fraser Minten (their most asked-about youth).

Toronto Maple Leafs Already Tried To Trade 2024 1st Round Draft Pick

The insider also revealed a rather interesting tidbit about the team. Apparently the Leafs were trying to acquire both Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames earlier this season. In that case, the team was open to trading the 2024 1st according to Friedman.

One case where I do believe they would have done so is if they had acquired both Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov, as they tried before the latter's move to the Lions Gate Bridge. There's no doubt in my mind the Maple Leafs want Tanev, but Calgary is holding to see if that first-rounder comes into play. It's poker, but if Toronto really wanted to do that, it would be done already. We will see.

Friedman's full thoughts can be read below. He also indicated that the Leafs are interested in adding some depth at center but there are few centers on the market with each of the top names in Lindholm and Monahan already moved.

As seen on Insider says Leafs open to moving 1st round pick in blockbuster trade