Could the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks trade first round picks?
Sheet with Jeff Marek: David Pagnotta and Jeff Marek, discussing the Toronto Maple Leafs and their first pick. They could trade down to, say, the Vancouver Canucks at No. 3? Why did they trade Auston Matthews to want to stay?
Marek: “Maple Leafs. You know, you can sell wines. You can sell hope. Right now, you’re selling the hope of this team. And I’m really wondering, like, if Vancouver comes to them with a package of the first overall pick? They want a guy from the West.”
Maybe the Maple Leafs are looking at Caleb Malhotra. It can go down to third. You can still find him. Premium position, middle ice man, not wing player.
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But then I go back to what you’re talking about, and that is, there’s, you know, the big, big good of the company, which isn’t just a hockey decision every time, it’s also a marketing decision. And right now the story of good news is Gavin McKenna and the first overall pick.
But if it makes sense to pick up assets and trade up and get Caleb Malhotra at third base and deal with Vancouver, who makes that decision?”
Pagnotta: “And how does that decision affect the captain’s opinion next, at least for the next two years? Many things will come up here. Many balls will drop in this whole equation.
You know, maybe, you’ll see the first batch join their NHL club. There is something for sale there from its marketability. There is an item for sale to your captain, who may be your teammate.
The framework will affect how they approach any trade they make. Free agency. All that. All the roses, right now, are covered with compost that was applied to them. It looks good.”
Marek: “Everything.”
Pagnotta: “But does it smell good, though? I don’t know. And, again, and everything tied to Auston Matthews, and I know there are reports out there, I think, I think some of the reports have been misunderstood by the public.
I can tell you, for sure that you know, Auston wants to win in Toronto. You want to be here, but if this team isn’t focused and put in the right place, like Edmonton, if it’s not focused and put in place to do that now, why are we playing time for everybody?
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If on July 15, they have McKenna. They redid the green line, they go. They got the official 3C. The fourth row is fixed. They understand where their bent is. They feel they can be a team that can compete in the Atlantic playoffs. Then all is well with Auston. But if none of those boxes are checked beyond the first choice, that’s a different conversation. “
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