NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 6, 2026
The Avalanche take a 2-0 series lead over the Wild, the Maple Leafs win the draft lottery, the Calder Trophy candidates are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of their best-of-seven second-round series. Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Necas each had a goal and an assist while Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 shots for the Avalanche, who hold a 2-0 series lead. Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Johansson replied for the Wild. This series shifts to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This wasn’t the high-scoring affair of Game 1, but there were still plenty of offense and scoring chances in this one. The difference was that Colorado did a better job defensively than they did in Game 1, while the Wild continued to struggle in their efforts to contain the Avalanche’s top line.
Filip Gustavsson replaced Jesper Wallstedt in goal for the Wild after the latter had a rough outing in Game 1. However, he was rusty from not playing in nearly three weeks, giving up goals on the first two shots he faced.
Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian missed this game with a lower-body injury. Jeff Petry replaced him in the lineup.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after winning the draft lottery on Tuesday evening. Top prospects in this year’s draft include left wing Gavin McKenna of Penn State University and forward Ivar Stenberg of Frolunda HC in Sweden.
The San Jose Sharks got the second overall pick, while the Vancouver Canucks dropped to third overall.
The Chicago Blackhawks hold the fourth overall pick, followed by the New York Rangers (5), Calgary Flames (6), Seattle Kraken (7), Winnipeg Jets (8), and Florida Panthers (9), with the Nashville Predators rounding out the top 10.
The St. Louis Blues hold the 11th overall pick, followed by the New Jersey Devils (12), New York Islanders (13), Columbus Blue Jackets (14), St. Louis Blues (15th, from the Detroit Red Wings), and the Washington Capitals at 16th.
The remainder of the draft order will be determined over the course of the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This result was a ray of hope for the Maple Leafs after a disappointing season and questions about the direction of the club under its new management. They could listen to trade offers if it fetches a player who immediately improves the roster, but they will likely retain it.
The last time a first-overall pick was traded was in 2003, when the Florida Panthers sent it to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who used it to select future Hall of Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
TSN: Speaking of Gavin McKenna, he passed up the chance to play for Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championship. He’s focused on preparing for the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo from May 31 to June 6.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the World Championship, Edmonton Oilers defensemen Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse, and Calgary Flames blueliner Zach Whitecloud will be part of Canada’s roster.
NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke are this year’s finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov led all rookies this season with 43 assists and 62 points, while Sennecke led in goals (23) and was second in assists (37) and points (60). Both are worthy candidates, but the favorite is Schaefer. The 18-year-old defenseman led all rookies in ice time per game (24:41), tied with Sennecke with 23 goals, and was third in points with 59 while playing for the offensively anaemic Islanders.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that his absence since March 19 was caused by a need to address his mental health. He admitted it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the correct one.
Hedman thanked his teammates, the Lightning organization, his family, and his therapist for their support, saying he was in a “much better place today.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anyone who has dealt with mental health issues knows how difficult it can be to admit that they need help and to seek it out. Here’s hoping Hedman continues healing and returns to action next season.
SPORTSNET: Jim Rutherford will step down as the Vancouver Canucks’ president of hockey operations following the 2026 NHL Draft (June 26-27). He intends to remain with the team as an advisor and alternate governor.
THE PROVINCE: Rutherford indicated that the Canucks are down to five candidates in their search for a new general manager. It’s believed Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson, former Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion, and Boston Bruins assistant GM Evan Gold.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The news of Dorion being among those candidates has some Canucks followers nervous because of the way his tenure in Ottawa ended. The Senators were forced to forfeit a first-round pick as punishment for trading Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights without sharing information about his no-trade list. The forfeiture was later overturned, but Dorion lost his job as a result.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikitin has been cleared to return to action after dealing with a concussion suffered during Game 4 of his club’s first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. Nikitin could return to action on Wednesday for Game 3 of the Hurricanes’ current series with the Philadelphia Flyers.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Flyers, forward Noah Cates is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury suffered during Game 2 against the Hurricanes.
NHL.COM: The New York Islanders have named Rocky Thompson as their new assistant coach.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed fourth-line center Stephen Halliday to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.075 million.
THE MERCURY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks signed depth winger Patrick Giles to a two-year, two-way contract.
When it comes to what the Leafs should do with their 1st overall pick, you can bet there will be suggestions … along with definitive “they must select X or else …” or “they HAVE to trade the pick to increase the quality of their prospect pool” … assertions pouring out of blogs and media outlets in the GTA, starting today.
This is where Chayka starts to earn his stripes. If the decision is to retain the pick, and if you scan the Web with the question “which 2026 NHL draft prospects are considered NHL-ready, this is what you get:
Gavin McKenna (LW, Penn State – NCAA): Considered the consensus top prospect for 2026, McKenna is viewed as a “star” potential forward with top-line ceiling, capable of having an immediate impact similar to top draft picks in recent years. He is a dynamic playmaker who has dominated competition at both the WHL and NCAA levels.
Ivar Stenberg (LW/RW, Frölunda HC – SHL): Often ranked in the top two, Stenberg has an extremely “NHL-ready” profile. As an 18-year-old, he produced significantly in the SHL (Sweden’s top league), indicating his ability to play against men and handle the professional pace immediately.
Keaton Verhoeff (RD, North Dakota – NCAA): At 6’4″ and 212 lbs, Verhoeff is seen as a physical, mature defenseman who has handled top-tier collegiate competition well, with high-end pro potential right away.
Chase Reid (RD, Sault Ste. Marie – OHL): A highly mobile, creative right-shot defenseman with top-pair potential. His speed, vision, and ability to run a top power play make him a candidate for immediate NHL duty.
Alberts Smits (LD, Jukurit – Liiga/Munchen – DEL): Smits has already proven himself against professional men in Finland and Germany, and he even competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics, making him one of the most experienced and ready defensive prospects.
Caleb Malhotra (C, Brantford – OHL): Possesses the 6’2″ frame and two-way skill set to transition smoothly to the professional game.
Viggo Bjorck (C/RW, Djurgardens IF – SHL): Known for his high-end motor and ability to play a complete game against older opponents in the SHL.
Carson Carels (LD, Prince George – WHL): A powerful, two-way defender who has demonstrated NHL-ready physicality and puck-moving abilities.
Be interesting to compare that list with where each of the 8 go on draft day.
If I were a GM and he was still available when my turn came, I think I’d grab big RD Keaton Verhoeff.
@George
I am very passionate with the draft , always have been
Fabulous News for U as well
Now you can become a Leaf fan !!
These are all very quality young kids you mentioned
Very, very strong draft
I am wondering if the Leafs best interest is to trade down , but – let’s use Chicago for example , whom desperately want an elite winger to play along with Bédard
Chicago also had keen interest in Matthew Kneis
Number 1 prize is a winger -trade down , you are still getting an elite pick , but what else would Chicago offer to obtain that 1st pick , could it be a haul?!?!!
Leafs need a number 2 center , they need a couple of defenseman , another winger , sure …
Can a trade fulfill more opportunity for the roster , as Leafs want to retool ???
Ken (and Daryl), right at this moment it’s so hard to try and figure what MAY be going through Chayka’s mind – or even if he’s been informed by Pelley and the Board that they EXPECT him to retain the pick and, in fact, who they’d prefer to see him select.
After all, he HAS been informed that his job is to re-tool and not even think about a re-build. In short, is he there to do their bidding or has he been given complete free rein to proceed as he sees best?
And even if he does have free rein, as 1Oilerfan points out, it would take a real ballsy GM to either pick someone other than McKenna for fear that he turns out to possess the same qualities as a Celebrini, OR to trade down to bring in more assets AND still have a pretty decent pick at his disposal.
There are already clear indications that moves in either direction are seen by various interests, and you can imagine the pressure he’ll be under between now and draft day!
With one stroke of the luck of the draw, the Leafs may have found the key to keeping Matthews. McKenna will be the replacement for Marner and gives them more hope for future success. If they bounce back even slightly next season, it may persuade Matthews to extend.
Howard, from everything I’ve been hearing and reading across numerous outlets, the Leafs’ D, as a whole, has been decried as “sluggish” and the position desperately in need of at least 2 high-end puck-moving D to better support their transition game. That’s why we keep hearing Darren Raddysh as probably the premier UFA target ,,, if he tests the waters.
This draft offers at least 2 such D that would make signing Raddysh to an expensive contract as foolhardy.
With all due respect to McKenna, his addition to the roster would no more improve their overall needs any more than Bedard has done so far for Chicago, and so bring them right back into contention.
Maybe Van trades DeBrusk, #3 OA, and 2027 SJ 2nd for #1OA and the Leafs grab Reid or Verhoeff. That might be tempting or something similar.
or Petey ($2M retained) and #3 OA for #1 OA and Morgan Reilly
This would put Trono back into a win NOW mode, or will they be patient and wait for more prospects and trade Matthews for more futures???
Kinda thinking the same way Johnny.
McKenna has a ton of offensive skill. The knock on him is his commitment to all the other parts of the game including responsibility away from the puck. And some talk of his attitude and being arrogant.
Neither of are that that unusual for an 18 yr old who has been told how great he is since he was in bantam.
Sounds to me like he could be like a Marner who isn’t committed defensively if the attitude doesn’t change. But who knows.
Other thing to consider is he won’t be a big contributor to winning until he does get his game complete and Matthews contract expires in 2 years. Is he willing to wait and see how this goes for the 3-4 years?
They meet in a week or 2, if he is non committal I still try and trade him, assuming he is willing to waive, and start the rebuild in earnest.
And if you’re gonna rebuild, they might be interested in getting the firsts they traded back as they will likely be good picks if they trade Matthews. Boston? Thoughts Bruin fans?
Seems easier to sell hope for the future now than the Leafs will be a cup contender before Matthews contract expires.
George, Raddy is UFA, but there may be other deals to be had in Lightning land if you need D.
Raddysh/Moser/Hedman
McDonough/Cernak
Crozier/Lilleberg/D’astous/Carlisle
Groshev
@George
I am very passionate with the draft , always have been
Fabulous News for U as well
Now you can become a Leaf fan !!
These are all very quality young kids you mentioned
Very, very strong draft
I am wondering if the Leafs best interest is to trade down , but – let’s use Chicago for example , whom desperately want an elite winger to play along with Bédard
Chicago also had keen interest in Matthew Kneis
Number 1 prize is a winger -trade down , you are still getting an elite pick , but what else would Chicago offer to obtain that 1st pick , could it be a haul?!?!!
Leafs need a number 2 center , they need a couple of defenseman , another winger , sure …
Can a trade fulfill more opportunity for the roster , as Leafs want to retool ???
Don’t over think it if you’re Toronto. Take McKenna and run.
This roster with it’s lack of picks and assets to improve will be headed for a rebuild in a year and half to two years. The rebuild will eventually pick them. Atleast you’ll have McKenna as a 20 year old to start to build around.
Hey Ken! Here’s a mind bender. 1 OA to Flames for Parekh, Zary, Vegas 1st (28?), 35 & 36.
Lol. Not saying this NHL lottery is rigged but the setup of it has got to be the most ridiculous thing in all of sports. Flames have never ever picked in the top 3. When I see we are 4th worst team in league & we have just a 9.5% chance of getting 1st, less for 2nd & way higher odds of picking later than how we finished, is ridiculous. At some point Bettman needs to smarten up because any ounce of hope for fanbases like Vancouver & Calgary get sucked out pretty quick.
Howard: One the one hand, the Leafs can’t lose. As George has catalogued, there are a number of very good players available for any skating position that will improve them.
On the other hand, one player isn’t going to turn the Leafs fortune around by himself. Did Matthews, a not so shabby pick, in 2016, for example? There are no Crosby/McDavid/Celebrini’s in this draft, as strong as it is.
IMO, Matthews will need to see not just a pretty flow chart with boxes, but actual players that give him a chance to win a Cup in Toronto. That will not be apparent this coming year, and may not be next.
And by the way, the same thing can be said for McDavid’s future with the Oilers.
LOL. The leafs have missed the playoffs twice in the last 10 years and got the first overall pick both times.
So they have more 1st round picks in the last 10 years than playoff series wins?!?!?!
Hey George nice list of prospects you have there.
It’s sure has been interesting last 48 hours for leafs fans.
As for the picks I would probably take Gavin he can be the Marner replacement and he has been the consensus #1 for a long time that being said they could try and trade it and move back a few spots and get a D.
The new GM might think he is the smartest man in the room lol.
Heh, Man on TV, that lottery win has certainly put the spotlight squarely on Chayka just days into his new job.
And you’re probably right … he will in all probability take McKenna. The last thing he’d need is to see him become another Celebrini as opposed to another Bedard.
My bias stems from being an adherent to the old philosophy that you build a consistent winner from the back end out. The stronger you are in goal and on the D and its puck-moving/defensive abilities, the easier it is for the Fs to concentrate on the offensive side of the game.
McKenna could very well be the ideal replacement for Marner … but even with Marner, a healthy Matthews, Nylander and Tavares, the Achilles heel for the Leafs when it came to the playoffs was the inability of their D to engage in the fast transition game.
I disagree abit, in today’s game speed kills, and you need to be able to move the puck well. The penguins back to back cups were built on a speed and skill, with decent goaltending.
Icebear, my recollection of the 2016 and 2017 back-to-back Cup teams coached by Mike Sullivan (especially 2017 when they eliminated Ottawa along the way in a 7th game double-OT), while certainly driven by the likes of Crosby and Malkin, were also reliant just as much (if not more) upon a fast, puck-moving D whose swift transition ability was essential to their speed-based game, led by a younger Letang, in driving the transition play from the defensive zone.
That adage still holds true Icebear. When people talk about the Habs these days it’s about the pace they play at… Canes, same, Avs, absolutely.
It was one heck of a tank job by the Leafs to go from 6 points away from a playoff spot to potentially forfeiting a top draft pick to getting the first overall pick is quite remarkable…just wish they could channel that energy into the on ice game.
I think the first overall pick having a known value, adds a bit more to it in trades proposals which making trading down is intriguing. McKenna, for an example, is someone who has been on the radar for years and the consensus is he’s truly a star forward, with every trait you’ll want in one. Having said that, it might be very tempting to trade down from it if someone in the top five is willing to swap this years firsts, maybe the following years pick or another pick from this year, and/or maybe it can include a roster player or high end futures player. Those players would have to have a similar value and in the same class/vein as you would for what you’ll be getting back with McKenna.
Personally, I’d rather the Nucks or Flames got the top picks. This lottery is the best chance smaller markets, especially in Canada, that are not seen as top UFA attracting market get top flight players. Not saying I’m unhappy with what transpired, but like George said, it’s already starting with all the what the Leafs should do and then will be followed by, that was the wrong pick or move and more rumors. 🙄
Well what a shocker Leafs win the lottery the night after the Matthews might not come back stories are all over the news.
The Leafs have missed the playoffs 2 times in the last 10 years, both times they missed they won the lottery. Another shocker.
Since the lottery was introduced in 1995 here are the teams that have moved up more than 4 spots to win the top pick,
Islanders (twice)
Blackhawks
Devils
Rangers
Leafs
Pure luck that they are all big market big media locations. The only thing that is easier to predetermine to look random other than sports are elections. The smirk on Bettman’s face tells you all you need to know.
As far as the pick goes if the Leafs are looking for Marner’s replacement Stenberg should be the pick as he drives play from the wing, is good defensively, and kills penalties. However I agree with George and believe a dman should be the pick. Trade down get a player or high end prospect or pick and still get a dman.
In reality, with Trono getting #1, this should trigger a quick rebuild/retool. They could offer up Matthews for younger NHLers and high picks, as well as other vets that wish to move on to quicken a rebuild/retool.
Snold, a lot of circumstantial evidence, for sure! I am sure there is a way to enhance the odds!
Here we go again with the rigged stuff.
The one lottery outcome that is totally predictable.
There is no grand scheme to award lottery wins to specific teams.
There is no circumstantial evidence Johnny, zero, nadda, zip. Results of lottery balls bouncing around isn’t evidence of a scheme to fix it.
So if Bettman and the NHL rigged this, how did they do it? Any ideas on how you even could?
C’mon guys.
Ray, there’s no denying now that people who speak of rigged this or that are not the best or brightest among us but have soapboxes available to them for use…
Maybe I’m being harsh about not being the brightest or best but you can’t deny it speaks volumes of their character. If anyone is offended, I suggest then you say what you mean and mean what you say.
Ray, people claimed NYR’s winning the 1st overall was rigged.
They had not picked in the top 3 in like 50+ years!
I dont think you can draft the D 1st overall in this draft. I think would be a very ballsy move. Particularly for Toronto. (And as much as they need D, Tavares is not getting younger and who knows what happens with matthews).
And SJ complicates things at number 2 as you have to imagine the top D goes off the board with their pick.
So now it becomes are you ok moving down for 2nd best D in the class…And at 3…Canucks are probably expecting things to unfold this way and happy with either forward SJ skips over.
So now if Toronto is looking at dropping down Its Chicago and NYR…Fox? What else are you targeting?
Anyway just my thoughts.
SJ should still take Stenberg or McKenna.
They could trade one of Misa or Graf for an established 1st pairing D. Vince Dunn comes to mind.
George O
I’ve been waiting for you to chime in.
Great assessment of the situation the Leafs find themselves in.
They definitely have a tough choice ahead. It was much easier the last time they had 1st overall.
The elephant in the room is Matthews. If he’s non-committal to staying, the choice for 1st overall changes with it. The other domino to fall if Matthews wants out would be Nylander. He’s stated publicly that he has no interest to stay through a full rebuild.
In this draft, I don’t think you take any of the D men at 1st overall. As much as the Leafs need help on D, unless one of these guys is the second coming of Schaeffer, it’s got to be Stenberg or McKenna.
I’d lean towards Stenberg as he seems like a more complete player. Leafs already have several defensively weak forwards.
Once management sits down and gets a clear picture of Matthews’ intentions,then they’ll be able to chart a course moving forward.
One player is not going to right this ship.
Especially crazy to think that about an 18yr old defender to potentially move the needle as much as it needs to be moved for the Leafs. If they are going to get a Dman with that pick, it should be for an established one in the ilk of Fox or Faber, not a rookie 18 yr old in this years draft. That’s way too much to ask.
Can’t see Leafs trading back. They’ll never hear the end of it should McKenna become a star player. Needs change every year. Look at NYR. Lafreniere was “that guy”. At the time, NY had no need for a LW. Hard to pass on consensus #1.
After McKenna, there’s been discussions on possibility that Reid could be #2. I could see Sharks and Nucks swapping picks. Seems inevitable that Swedish forward Stenberg ends up in Van
Hearing Hedman describe his mental health concerns brought immediately to mind the early-season similar concerns of Linus Ullmark, and that, in turn, got me to wondering if this isn’t some sort of issue peculiar more to Swedish players.
So I queried that, and the response I got was, if nothing else, certainly interesting:
“Based on available research, there is no evidence that Swedish NHL players suffer from mental health issues more commonly than any other nationality. While recent studies have highlighted significant mental health challenges among elite hockey players in Sweden—particularly regarding burnout, depression, and anxiety related to concussion history—these findings generally reflect the high-stress nature of elite hockey rather than a nationality-specific increased risk compared to Canadians, Americans, or other European players.
Key Findings on Mental Health in Swedish Hockey
• Concussion Impact: A 2024 study of 648 Swedish elite players found that those with a history of three or more concussions were at a significantly higher risk for burnout and mental health issues.
• Gender Disparities: Female elite players in Sweden report higher rates of burnout (19.1%) compared to the general population, with nearly one in five suffering from symptoms.
• Alcohol Use: Both male and female elite players in Sweden reported high levels of hazardous alcohol consumption (roughly 30% for men and 36% for women), which is often associated with anxiety and depression.
• Gambling Issues: Elite Swedish male hockey players have a higher prevalence of at-risk gambling behavior compared to the general population, which correlates with higher rates of depression and anxiety.
Contextualizing Swedish Players
• High Participation Rates: Swedish players make up a significant portion of the NHL (ranking 3rd in the 2025–26 season), meaning they are often in the spotlight regarding injuries and performance, potentially making issues seem more common than they are.General Hockey Culture: The challenges of mental health—including stigma, the pressure to perform, and the impact of injuries—are prevalent across all hockey nationalities, not just Swedish players.
• While recent research (2024–2025) often comes from Swedish universities investigating their own leagues, the conclusions regarding burnout and injury-linked mental health struggles apply widely to elite professional hockey players in North America and Europe.”
Now just imagine if the Leafs had not decided to lose those last couple games…Boston would be picking first overall.
Not sure it works that way theSaint.
Not 100 on this, but I think if the Leafs finished 6th from the bottom, and won the lotto, the pick still would have reverted back to the Leafs.
The pick the B’s get now, likely in 2028, is not protected. We’ll see how that works out, but there is a reasonable chance it could be a good one.
Ray.
3 unprotected 1sts in 28 is highly probable for bruins as of now. But based on age of core etc if I had a say with Sweeney I would suggest going hard to get Thomas from blues.
1st plus Lorhei Potrais or Lysell toss in Middlestadt if needed
LOL Saint, no need nor desire to imagine that.
On a serious note regarding the future picks owed to the Flyers and Bs, with the Leafs electing to keep this pick now – especially since you can’t get (or trade away) a better pick than this 1st OA pick in the following years, that one pick in ‘27 that belongs to the Flyers should remain a top 10 protected pick as per the trade deal, and Boston’s owed first will be given unprotected in ‘28. I’ve read there’s been some discussion about this and if it’s two unprotected picks or just the one.
Might take a little more for Thomas IMO MB4.
Maybe anther first, depends how they value Middlestadt who has become a reliable middle 6 winger who can play on the 2nd unit PP.
Same kind of question we have debated on here so often on the Bruins. What is the best strategy; keep going for the retool, which barely got them into the playoffs as a WC team and a 1st round exit.
Or, rebuild.
Tough to do with guys like Pasta, McAvoy and Swayman, they won’t want that.
They have quality assets that are future based now. 4 1sts in next 2 drafts, Minten and Hagens. They have 3 very good pieces in their prime and some other quality guys like Zacha, Hampus and Geekie.
Enough to get in but not win it. Will Thomas get you there? I personally don’t think so, but maybe?
I would bet Sweeney focuses on the now as that’s what teams that make the playoffs do, and what Boston has always done. And if you are, they might as well take a swing at a guy like Thomas.
Hey Ray the question to rebuild or retool are just words describing the extent of the problem. If it’s full organizational it’s a rebuild, if not there are various degrees of retooling. The question the Bs need to answer is, can you do it within the prime years of your stars? If not you have little choice but to rebuild. Stars aren’t wasting their prime years not winning and tanking when they should be used to win games and championships. Most teams have a handful of good players and are missing a handful of good players they need to get over the top. It’s on management (+luck) to find those missing guys or finding the right combination before your stars peak’s window closes. If you can’t then it’s best to trade the stars away for futures caping off a rebuild.
I don’t follow the Bs as much as I should to be able to make any worthwhile conclusions but fans of the team could honestly answer that if looked at it that way.
Sharks get the second pick. No matter who they select, it will just add more high end talent. That team is going to be a force in the next few years!
@George
U need to chime in again
Scroll back
To St. Louis- 1OA
To TML- Kyrou, #11, #15
St. Louis gets McKenna and cap space.
TML gets a proven forward and 2 decent picks in a deep draft.
Hey HF30, not unreasonable but I believe, in order to make a deal for a roster player, it would have to be one of in need more than a good piece. The player would have to be one of the following as the core returning piece (extra prospects and pick swaps excluded): for me, it starts with a dynamic all situation player especially on D. Next in the pecking order is a 2nd line center. Or a winger like McKenna…if the Leafs keep the pick, they’ll have what McKenna will bring and as well as being a need for the team, he will be a cost controlled asset (with elite skill) which will allow them to have space to further address other holes. Rome wasn’t build in a day, nor will any fix for this team be…
Ron Moore,
In that case swap out Kyrou with Thomas.
To St. Louis- #1 O
To TML- Thomas, #11,#15
You get your C and 2 picks high enough in this good draft year to get meaningful players.
Tankathon has 11 and 15 as defensemen.
habfan30
I don’t mind that proposal.
I was thinking the Leafs could parlay that 1st overall pick into #3 and Hronek. This would give VAN the opportunity to get Stenberg and hope SJ picks a D with #2
As good as McKenna and Stenberg are, the Leafs need more than one player to right this ship.
With new management on board are they willing to focus the spotlight on themselves by trading that 1st overall pick?
@ Habs fan
I an thinking a similar scenario , as per an article I posted earlier today
I am still wanting a pick in the top 5 or 6 , plus another high pick plus a defenseman
Maybe Leafs can add to the equation to make it work
Leafs have a lot of holes in their lineup , somehow have to figure out – how to fill them
I thought Berube wasn’t a fit as well , but the new GM seems to like him
In the mean time – Go Habs Go !
Am I wrong to think that McKenna may be more like Ryan Nugent- Hopkins than Celebrini or Bedard?
Don’t equate Bedard to Celebrini. There is a HUGE gap there.