The Athletic covers the match live 2023 NHL Draft
As the entire hockey world converges on Nashville for the start of the NHL Draft Tuesday, we can expect an offseason of changes for the maple leaves to start seriously.
For starters, this means new players are added via the draft. As it stands, the Leafs only have three picks (28th, 153rd, 185th). But who makes those selections remains unclear, and it should make for a curious couple of days for the Leafs.
When Brad Treliving was hired by the Leafs as their new general manager, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan revealed that Treliving’s former team, the Calgary Flamesimposed “certain restrictions” on Treliving’s involvement in the Leaf Project.
The Leafs have confirmed Athleticism Treliving cannot be at the Leafs draft table or participate in draft meetings. It’s still unclear what the other stipulations are, which leaves us with a few questions.
Even if Treliving isn’t at the Leafs draft table, is he in a position to trade for one of the Leafs’ picks, this year or beyond? For example, in the 2022 draft, the Leafs traded their 2023 fourth-round pick to re-acquire a fourth-round pick who would become now-touted goalie prospect Dennis Hildeby. Will there be a disconnect between a new general manager and his recruiting team during the two-day draft?
Further reading:
Is it possible that deals will be made that don’t get done because Treliving won’t be at the drafting table? The Leafs have a valuable asset in their first round pick.
Even as the answers to these questions emerge, doesn’t it seem a little strange that a team’s new general manager isn’t in full control of his new team’s situation, or possibly its assets, as he approaches two the most important days of the year for him?
Nonetheless, Treliving and the rest of the Leafs staff appear to be busy with what could be a hectic summer stopover in Nashville.
Here are five questions Athleticism wonders if we’ll have any answers by the time we board our flight back to Toronto on Friday.
Is a big trade coming?
The Leafs’ list of needs isn’t short: a top-six winger or a second-line center, depending on where you see John Tavares stand in line. Lots of bottom six forwards. One of the four best defenders.
Treliving could wait until free agency opens on July 1 to address some of those needs, or he could do what he did throughout last year and go for a not-so-small trade. As a reminder, since the beginning of 2022, Treliving has been trading (among others) against securities like Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Tyler Toffoli, Nick Ritchie and a first-round pick when shipping Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan and several first-round picks.
The list of tradeable assets in the Leafs prospect pool and collection of draft picks that are said to be in demand is slim. So, could we see one of the team’s players being traded as part of a hockey trade in an effort to add more pieces for 2023?
Treliving has yet to put his stamp on this Leafs team. With all the leaders in the same city, the draft could be Treliving’s first real opportunity to make a deal that could change the complexion of the team heading into next season.
Will the Leafs announce an extension for Sheldon Keefe?
Listen, very often, to media availability with a NHL The team’s head coach in the draft isn’t that revealing. These coaches likely spent their previous weeks and months replaying or reviewing tapes and had little to no influence on who was drafted. They know that players who were just drafted will be years away from being sent to the boards by them, if at all.
In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Sheldon Keefe as relaxed as he was during the 2022 draft.
But this year could be different. If Keefe speaks to the media, he’ll have plenty of questions to answer, including: What does his future look like as head coach of the Leafs?
There was some sort of speculation after another season without a deep playoff run, and with Kyle Dubas as GM, that Keefe might not be back in Toronto in 2023-24 either. He has one year left on his contract. But with Keefe and Treliving would have looking together for a new assistant coach, is the road paved for Keefe’s return?
Keefe is, after all, a very good coach with a very good regular season record. The idea of him returning as a lame-duck coach in the final year of his contract is a real headache, so it seems increasingly possible that the Leafs will announce an extension before draft day. If that happens, questions about his future will be a topic of discussion during the draft. But without any clarity on that future, the discussion over Keefe’s return and for how long won’t end anytime soon.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs draft options: Joshua Kloke’s top five finalists for pick No. 28
Will the Leafs keep their first round pick?
The last time the Leafs made their own first round draft pick would be 2017 (!). Even for a team that has constantly tried to contend during this window, this approach – constantly changing their pick for various reasons – is pretty wild. It’s no wonder the Leafs prospect pool is on the brink of dire straits and so far from having the kind of talent they once had in their system.
This year is no different, as the Leafs’ original pick, 25, was returned to the Blues as part of the agreement for Ryan O’Reilly And Christmas Acciari. But they acquired the Bruins’ first-round pick via the Capitals when they turned around Rasmus Sandin out.
There are routes the Leafs could take with the 28th pick, whether it’s a trade to acquire more lottery tickets or a trade for a player on the roster or as part of a package to abandon a contract. (More on that in a moment.)
But the Best option Restocking his prospect cabinet would effectively be like making a first-round pick in a very good draft.
There are legitimate options for the Leafs to explore at 28, which we have covered in detail over the last few weeks.
A center with professional experience who could fit into the Leafs lineup in a short amount of time like Otto Stenberg logic. Extremely competent point-producing power forward Quentin Mousti might end up being available. There are even players who bear striking similarities to Matthew Kniesas Charlie Stramel.
And with the many talented options available to the Leafs, if they made their first-round pick, that player would instantly rise to the top of their prospect rankings. Whether they want to add to their prospect pool remains to be seen, as this organization has rarely been shy about offering a first-round pick in a deal. If Treliving can trade picks, we might learn a little more about his philosophy for this team on day one of the draft.
Are the Leafs closer to a Auston Matthews extension?
The first question Treliving asked the media when he was unveiled as the Leafs’ new general manager on June 1 concerned the future of one of the best players in franchise history, and one entering the last year of his contract, Auston Matthews.
“I’m glad we waited this long to bring this up,” Treliving said jokingly.
You can be sure that after a meeting reported Between Treliving and Matthews in Arizona this month, Treliving won’t have to wait long in Nashville to face even more questions about the future of its stellar center.
Namely: Is Treliving closer to finalizing a possible extension for Matthews?
Secondary questions include: Does Treliving have a timeline in place for next steps? Would he be comfortable letting extension negotiations continue into the season?
Treliving called re-signing Matthews his No. 1 priority. This comes to light Johnny Gaudreauthe Flames star under Treliving, leaving the club for the Blue jackets as a UFA.
Matthews’ no-movement clause takes effect July 1. Signing him again would be a massive signal of intent for Treliving and would silence even more questions that could linger throughout the summer, training camp and, well, even the season.
Auston Matthews is going to get paid.
The question is how much and for how long – a question that has major ramifications for the NHL’s pinnacle contract landscape, writes @domluszczyszyn.
What will his next contract look like?https://t.co/ZyIsBNQbMk
– The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) June 21, 2023
What does the future hold for us? Matt Murray?
Murray’s first season in Toronto did not go as planned. The presumed starting goaltender arriving at training camp suffered three serious injuries and only played in 26 regular season games.
After an injury to Ilia Samsonov, Murray watched Joseph Woll get the nod in the second round of the playoffs. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for his future in Toronto, especially if Keefe remains behind the bench.
So at the moment there is three likely outcomes for Murray with the Leafs. The 29-year-old and his $4.68 million cap hit could simply spend next season on the club’s roster. Although Murray has a no-trade clause to 10 teams, he could still be sent away, possibly with the aforementioned first-round pick attached to him in a trade. (However, in my opinion, this would be detrimental to the Leafs in the long run.)
Or, finally, he could be redeemed.
Importantly, the buyout period ends approximately 24 hours after the conclusion of the draft. This means that the window for Treliving to explore this possibility is quickly closing. And you wonder if they don’t find a deal in the draft if it forces their hand with a buyout… if, of course, they even want to move on from Murray.
(Top photo by Sheldon Keefe: John E. Sokolowski / USA Today)
