The Toronto Maple Leafs were so close, and yet so far away. Clawing their way back from a 3-1 series deficit, the Leafs surrendered the seventh game to a Boston team who came out flying the final period. In the latest iteration of his 31 thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman writes that the Maple Leafs need to clarify their front office structure after a gut-wrenching game seven loss. Writes Friedman, who says that the Leafs young front office talent is ready to move up:
(Kyle) Dubas and (Mark) Hunter are OHL rivals from London and Sault Ste. Marie. What does promotion for one mean for the other? And, what does it mean for Lamoriello? Would he want to stay in an advisory role? Or could another organization come calling?
Honestly, I don’t have a great feel for it. There are some executives who believe Shanahan will change things, others who believe he will keep status quo into 2018–19. We’re guessing, but we’re soon to get our answer.
Friedman adds that the Leafs will have decisions to make with a number of key players, as Auston Matthews’ contract negotiations will “dominate conversation.”
- Friedman writes that Ducks GM Bob Murray said there is still a lot of “emotion” after Anaheim bowed out of the playoffs quickly against the Sharks. Friedman reports that he was in Ontario watching some of the Ducks prospects, and admitted that the game is being played at a much faster pace–and a version that he would like to see played and would have been played more if not for an injury plagued 2017-18.
- Freidman reports that Red Wings general manager Ken Holland will be one of several GMs to be present at the draft lottery on Saturday. Holland spoke with MLive’s Ansar Khan during AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins’ 6-3 loss and told Khan that there will be no express line and that young prospects have to be an “NHL player” in order to make the roster. This type of thinking is a slight move from Holland’s “overly ripe” mentality for years, which was skewered by fans and some analysts for letting talent wait too long before coming to the NHL, hurting the organization in the long run. Holland said as much to the Detroit Red Wings’ Art Regner in his Red and White Authority podcast, indicating that the Red Wings have a number of chances to stockpile young talent and give the younger players a chance.
Red Wings have 7 picks in the first 3 rounds and a top pick ranging anywhere from 1-8. I feel as if they should try to package whatever they can to try and move up to the 1st pick to snag Rasmus Dahlin
Whoever gets the first overall pick is not trading if. The Red Wings would have to give their first, Larkin, Mantha, Rasmussen and Svechnikov to get a dialogue going for that pick. Dahlin is going to be a franchise cornerstone. I know that asking price is absurd but it would take an absurd offer to pry that pick away.
To add onto what you said manos, the 1st overall pick hasn’t been traded since the 2003 draft(which ended a 6 year run where four 1st overall picks were traded). Teams just don’t deal top picks anymore and rightfully so since 14 of the past 18 top picks have been franchise cornerstone-type players(15 if you want to include Hischier).
I agree that it would take a hefty hefty haul but I think your suggestion of a top 8 pick, Larkin, Mantha, Rasmussen and Svechnikov AKA 5 first round picks just to get a dialogue is a little bit absurd
franchise cornerstone defencemen aren’t cheap.
I’d take the first 4, and dump a contract on Detroit.