Two digits on a ping pong ball bouncing the suitable approach is all it took to vary all the temper of a fanbase. A season stuffed with frustrations, unhealthy choices and disappointment for the Toronto Maple Leafs is melting away just like the final remnants of snow on a heat spring day. Now, hope, optimism and enthusiasm fill the air, because the Leafs can have their decide of any participant they like within the upcoming 2026 draft.
It’s one thing the workforce desperately wanted. Toronto’s cabinets are naked. It wasn’t going to have a first-round choice for two of the subsequent three years, and the way forward for Auston Matthews stays unclear. John Chayka famous how he and Mats Sundin have been going to must catch a shifting practice, and even although the draft lottery win doesn’t remedy the whole lot, it’s positively given them a titanic enhance.
Having the No. 1 decide additionally means the Leafs have selections and extra flexibility. It’s a extremely coveted choice, and whereas the plain option to most is to draft Gavin McKenna and never assume twice, Chayka and Sundin might search for creative methods to put it to use and fill extra holes on the roster.
Maple Leafs ought to discover trades, drafting somebody apart from Gavin McKenna
One of the obvious wants for the Leafs is on the blue line, as they’ve been missing a real No. 1 defenceman for, nicely, many years actually. Had they merely saved the fifth decide, that’s doubtless the trail they’d’ve gone down, since there are a number of gifted blue-liners on the prime of this draft. That mentioned, might Toronto transfer down a number of slots in a commerce that features a few different property and nonetheless seize a high-end participant like Chase Reid or Keaton Verhoeff on the again finish?
There’s additionally a risk the Leafs might take into account buying and selling the decide for a number of property that would assist them right this moment. Would the St. Louis Blues take into account shifting Robert Thomas and the eleventh general decide, for instance, for the suitable to the highest choice? Thomas was on the block on the deadline however finally stayed put. We all know the Leafs wish to get again into the playoff combine instantly, and getting a top quality, established centre would definitely assist the trigger.
Plus, Chayka’s resume exhibits he isn’t afraid to maneuver excessive picks. Whereas with the Arizona Coyotes, Chayka flipped the seventh general decide for Derek Stepan. That was a nasty swap, however it does level to the actual fact Chayka is keen to get aggressive with top-10 picks.
There’s additionally the chance that the Leafs might preserve the decide and draft somebody apart from McKenna. If there’s a defenceman they actually covet, they might select to take him at one, or they might have a look at one other ahead. Some worth Ivar Stenberg forward of McKenna and Caleb Malhotra, who performs centre, wouldn’t be far behind. Toronto has loads of choices price contemplating.
There are some situations the place it could make sense for the Leafs to contemplate doing one thing apart from drafting McKenna, however making him their choice offers them the participant with the best upside, and it’s additionally what’s greatest long-term.
You’ll be able to’t assume McKenna goes to have the identical influence as a teen like Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer did, however it actually does really feel like his ceiling is the best in his class. He’s nonetheless going to have the ability to step in immediately and play in Toronto’s prime six, taking good care of one gap the Leafs wanted to deal with. McKenna would additionally immediately assist a energy play that has struggled to seek out consistency since Mitch Marner departed.
There are additionally solely a handful of commerce situations that might make sense to go up for somebody with McKenna’s potential. The expertise degree of gamers actually drops when you get out of the highest 5 in most drafts, so buying and selling down wouldn’t be price it except you’re getting a handful of different property. Should you wished to take a look at shifting it for a longtime NHLer or two, they must be elite abilities, and few groups would most likely dangle these on this state of affairs.
The Leafs additionally want to arrange for the situation that this retool could not work. What if they’re sitting in eleventh or twelfth within the East on the halfway level of the season, and Auston Matthews decides he doesn’t wish to prolong? You’d virtually definitely be heading in direction of a rebuild at that time, and it could be significantly better to start out that off by constructing round somebody like McKenna.
There will certainly be tempting alternatives for the Maple Leafs to contemplate concerning this No. 1 decide, however the most secure and smartest play is to take McKenna.
The Lightning have main questions to deal with this low season
It’s laborious to imagine a workforce as gifted because the Tampa Bay Lightning has now exited the playoffs within the opening spherical 4 years in a row. The Lightning have been near breaking the streak towards the Montreal Canadiens, however they got here up quick, and lots of the points from previous years resurfaced. Andrei Vasilevskiy was actually good for stretches, though he finally completed with a save proportion beneath .900 for the fourth consecutive post-season. As for Nikita Kucherov, he’s nonetheless factoring in on the scoresheet, although he’s tallied simply two targets in Tampa’s previous 4 playoff collection. Kucherov can be now pointless in seven profession Recreation 7s.
The majority of the Lightning’s core is 30 or older, and Darren Raddysh shall be a UFA after a breakout season. Tampa is dealing with extra questions this low season than ever earlier than, and if it does not handle them, its rivalry window might begin shrinking shortly.
Raddysh’s state of affairs looms largest for Tampa, because the rising blue liner scored 70 factors final season, and that offence can be laborious to exchange if he walks out the door. Retaining him would come with threat, although. Raddysh is probably going in search of an enormous increase on the $975K he made this yr, and handing out massive {dollars} with vital time period for a 30-year-old with just one good offensive yr might backfire. If he leaves, Victor Hedman would doubtless take again the power-play duties, although the unit might endure with out Raddysh.
On the subject of Vasilevskiy, Tampa could must lastly put money into a extra succesful No. 2 possibility to cut back the previous Conn Smythe winner’s regular-season minutes. Vasilevskiy will flip 32 in July and has performed a ton of hockey over the previous a number of seasons, so prioritizing holding him contemporary for the playoffs going ahead shall be paramount. Jonas Johansson has dealt with the backup duties for the previous three seasons, although the Lightning haven’t actually been capable of belief him. With the cap going up, it may very well be helpful to put money into somebody able to enjoying 30-35 video games to lighten Vasilevskiy’s workload somewhat.
The Lightning could have to focus on a centre, too. Brayden Level is without doubt one of the greatest within the enterprise, however after him, issues actually drop off from an offensive perspective. Anthony Cirelli was nominated for the Selke this yr, although his offence is on the low finish for a top-six centre. Tampa and Kucherov are simpler to defend with out one other high-end offensive pivot on their prime two strains. It’s simpler mentioned than completed, after all, but when it might add a centre who might make it extra threatening within the offensive zone, Tampa would turn into extra balanced and more durable to match up towards.
Normal supervisor Julien BriseBois could not be capable of deal with the whole lot on his want checklist. Nonetheless, I’d argue that if he doesn’t improve in a few areas, it’s going to be powerful for Tampa to compete with the youthful up-and-coming groups within the East.
Mitch Marner has shed the narrative he can’t come via within the clutch
There isn’t any denying Mitch Marner is a superb participant and among the best at his craft, however many, particularly Leafs followers, will level to his shortcomings in the playoffs. At first look, Marner’s playoff numbers in Toronto look good, although he did most of his injury earlier in a playoff collection. The 29-year-old scored simply as soon as in a Recreation 5, 6 or 7 throughout his time with the Maple Leafs throughout 9 playoff appearances. In this go-around with Vegas, although, issues are beginning off on a a lot higher foot.
Marner scored twice in Recreation 6 versus Utah within the opening spherical, together with the game-winning aim that despatched the Mammoth dwelling. He appears to be like extra snug this post-season with out the burden of carrying a number of playoff disappointments like he did in a hockey-mad market in Toronto, and was dominant Friday evening towards the Anaheim Geese, scoring a hat trick. Let’s additionally not overlook a few huge extra time targets he tallied for Staff Canada on the 4 Nations and Olympics. Maybe Marner has put the narrative that he can’t produce within the clutch behind him.
Marner has definitely been spectacular for the Golden Knights thus far this spring, however it’s nonetheless early. There’s lots of hockey but to be performed, and one clutch outing within the first spherical towards a first-time playoff workforce gained’t fully erase the recollections of previous post-seasons. That mentioned, the truth that Marner is enjoying a brand new place at instances, and probably the most vital one on the ice for skaters, for that matter, whereas elevating a participant like Brett Howden deserves lots of reward. He’s given Vegas much more versatility and adaptability in its ahead group. That might propel the Golden Knights on a deep run, the place Marner would get extra alternatives to ship within the clutch and silence his critics as soon as and for all.
What Frederik Andersen is doing this post-season is actually unbelievable. The Carolina Hurricanes netminder has conceded simply 10 targets in eight video games to this point, barely giving up greater than a mean of a aim per recreation. Andersen’s save proportion can be sitting at .950, which is an enormous improve from his regular-season quantity. The 36-year-old didn’t have a powerful marketing campaign, posting simply an .874 save proportion with a targets towards common of over three. This sudden surge in play from Andersen has powered the Canes to an 8-0 report within the playoffs, as Carolina appears to be like prefer it’s going to steamroll via the East. Regardless that there’s nonetheless greater than two rounds to go, it actually does really feel just like the Conn Smythe Trophy is Andersen’s to lose at this level.
There are some others which have actually stepped up this post-season, however none are on the extent of Andersen. Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy have all been glorious for the Minnesota Wild, however they’re trailing the Colorado Avalanche of their collection, and none have been so distinctive to unseat Andersen. Nathan MacKinnon and Jackson LaCombe have a case as nicely, though I don’t assume you may argue both has been as far forward of his friends as Andersen is. Goalies typically find yourself profitable the award, and it’s laborious to imagine Andersen wouldn’t declare it if this retains up and Carolina goes on to win all of it.
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