Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!
With the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline coming up on Monday the league should be busy making moves over the weekend, doing all the big transactions away from the deadline, and making things difficult for the 18 hour broadcasts.
After making plenty of moves over the past few years, the Leafs cupboard isn’t as fully stocked as it once was, but here’s the things that could be on the move.
Draft Picks
2022: 1st, 2nd, 7th
Technically 7th is up for grabs if Brendan Menell pays 30 NHL games but who here remembers who that is? It’s safely Toronto’s.
3rd: Sent to the Flames for David Rittich
4th: Sent to Columbus in the Nick Foligno Trade
5th: Sent to the Ducks for Ben Hutton
6th: Sent to Columbus for Riley Nash
2023: Picks 1-6
Everything here is on the table aside from the 7th round pick, which was sent to the Penguins in the trade for Jared McCann.
2024: All picks available.
Prospects
The full depth chart of signed Leafs is here:
Related
Sifting through the Leafs depth chart for gold
Word on the street is Joey Duszak is up for grabs, but no other signed players have been rumoured.
In the unsinged category:
Untouchables?: Nick Abruzzese and Matthew Knies are talked about as in demand but also brought up as possible signings once their college seasons are over.
Forwards: Vladimir Bobylev, Nikolai Chebykin, Roni Hirvonen, Vladislav Kara, Semyon Kizimov, Veeti Miettinen, Joe Miller, Wyatt Schingoethe, and Ryan Tverberg.
Hands up if you’ve seen/heard of them.
Defenders: John Fusco, Mikko Kokkonen, Mike Koster, Kalle Loponen, Topi Niemelä, Ryan O’Connell, Axel Rindell.
Topi Niemelä is the top defense prospect, possibly the only one the Leafs won’t want touched, but also the only one anyone may want? Ryan O’Connell and Axel Rindells rights expire soon.
Goal: Vyacheslav Peksa
Did I make this name up? Who knows?
Will any of these players still be Leafs come Monday evening? Only time will tell.
In other news:
The Maple Leafs beat the Carolina Hurricanes last night, barely, but they did the job and Erik Källgren has saved 80 of 83 shots since making his NHL debut.
Related
Game 61 Recap: Maple Leafs beat Carolina thanks to a big game by Källgren
In other good news, veteran defender Mark Giordano wants to be a Leaf.
Related
Report: Mark Giordano wants to play in Toronto
The big story last night was tracked Claude Giroux. He’s still in Philly...
He’s not going to Boston or New York, he said no to that.
The Flyers were considering offers from four teams - Florida, Colorado, Boston and the New York Rangers.
— Anthony SanFilippo (@AntSanPhilly) March 18, 2022
It is believed that Giroux nixed offers to New York and Boston.
Nothing is for sure yet with the Panthers or Avs.
No Claude Giroux trade yet, sources say. He won’t play Friday or Sunday, the Flyers will hold him out until the situation is resolved through the deadline. Florida remains very interested. I think Colorado remains in the mix. We’ll see what Friday brings. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 18, 2022
But then a dark horse candidate emerged from nowhere:
BREAKING: The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired Claude Giroux, pending trade call
— Atlanta Thrashers (@NotThrashers) March 18, 2022
Good luck in Atlanta Claude!
No Leafs game tonight, so enjoy time doing something else...like....imagining a Leafs game!
