The Bruins' removal from the 1st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Florida Panthers not only means that the Leafs avoid a team they've had trouble with before in the postseason, but it also guarantees a 1st round draft pick for Toronto that's as good as it gets, considering the team doesn't own its own first-round pick in 2023. The pick Toronto has in the 1st round belongs to Boston. It came to the Leafs from the Washington Capitals in the trade for Rasmus Sandin. The Caps acquired it in a trade that sent Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to the Bruins.
The deeper Boston had gone in the playoffs, the lower that pick would have dropped. In a draft that has been called the deepest in years by analysts, a late 1st round gem is certainly not out of the question. For Toronto GM Kyle Dubas, it's a big win.
POLL | ||
MAI 1 | 531 ANSWERS Leafs Pick From the Bruins Officially Locked in, and Fans Should be Excited What's better, Toronto vs Boston in the 2nd round, or Toronto vs Florida? | ||
Toronto vs Boston | 102 | 19.2 % |
Toronto vs Florida | 311 | 58.6 % |
Don't care either way | 118 | 22.2 % |
List of polls |