Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro Imagn Images
Since drafting Auston Matthews 1st overall, the Leafs have dealt away a multitude of prospects and draft picks, but the actual numbers are eye-opening.
Unfortunately, through nearly ten seasons, they are on their third general manager, third head coach, Marner has left the city, and the team is in the midst of their worst stretch of hockey since drafting Matthews.
Deadline Deals Have Been Unsuccessful
Often trading picks and prospects for veterans, the Leafs have quietly become the laughing stock of the deadline with a very long list of trades that failed to get them over the hump, often overpaying to do so.
The Leafs have made very few picks at the NHL Entry Draft compared to a lot of their rivals, but when you step back and look at the numbers, it really puts things into perspective.
How Many Picks Have the Leafs Traded in the Matthews Era?
Earlier this week on an episode of ‘Spittin’ Chiclets’ podcast, Ryan Whitney and the crew revealed that the Leafs have dealt a total of seven first-round picks since Matthews was drafted, including Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin.
On top of trading seven first-rounders, the Leafs have sent a total of 40 draft picks out the door, which led to Whitney making a sad statement about the team’s reality.
“They’ve traded away their future completely and haven’t gotten out of the second round.”
Leafs In A World of Trouble
As the Leafs sit dead-last in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, they appear set to waste another season with one of the best goal scorers alive in Auston Matthews.
Injuries have played a huge part in their struggles with Matthews, Matthew Knies, Brandon Carlo and a host of others missing time with injuries, but without a first, second or fourth round pick for the upcoming draft and no first or third in the 2027 draft, the Leafs may need to start selling and re-tooling before it’s too late.The only saving grace is that their first-round pick this year is top-five protected, but if they fall outside of that range, it goes to Boston as part of the Fraser Minten, Carlo deadline deal last season.
If the Leafs end up having to send the 6th overall pick to Boston, there are going to be a lot of upset Maple Leafs fans.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily
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Maple Leafs guilty of perhaps the wildest draft pick dump in NHL history during Auston Matthews era
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