The Bolts sweeping the Panthers leads to a better pick for the Leafs in the upcoming draft
After a tough 7-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning came out full bore against the Presidents Trophy winners, completing a clean 4-0 sweep of the Florida Panthers with a 2-0 win on Monday that could have just as easily been a 4-0 win, were it not for a pair of Tampa goals being disallowed.
The Panthers' loss to the back-to-back Champs was one of some significance for the Leafs, as it bumped their 2022 1st round pick up to 27th overall. The Leafs could still end up picking as high as 24th overall, but it would require the Oilers, Rangers and Blues to each make their respective conference finals.
As it stands, the Blues are down 3-1 in their series with the Colorado Avalanche and the Rangers are down 2-1 in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers are up 2-1 in their series against the Calgary Flames, but the Flames were heavily favoured to win the series coming in.
If the Leafs do end up with the 26th or 27th pick in the draft, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see GM Kyle Dubas trade down to acquire an extra pick, as the Leafs currently only own 3 picks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft - their own 1st, Winnipeg's 3rd, and their own 7th. Trading down into the top of the 2nd round would allow the Leafs to still potentially draft a first round talent, while also adding another pick in, say, the 3rd round.
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 322 ANSWERS The Bolts sweeping the Panthers leads to a better pick for the Leafs in the upcoming draft Will the Leafs keep their first round pick this year or trade down to acquire an extra pick? | ||
| They'll keep it | 150 | 46.6 % |
| They'll trade down | 113 | 35.1 % |
| They'll trade down twice to get even more picks | 59 | 18.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
