'More Than Likely We're Making The Pick': Maple Leafs' Brad Treliving Not Opposed to Dealing First-Round Draft Selection for the Right Deal
LAS VEGAS — Will the Toronto Maple Leafs deal away the 23rd overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft? It all depends on the return.
In his media availability on Wednesday, club GM Brad Treliving was asked what the odds were that he'd move the club's first-round draft selection before it comes up on Friday.
"I wouldn't say I'm opposed to moving it," Treliving said. "I would say as I sit here more than likely we're making the pick."
Treliving can say that with confidence after The Athletic reported earlier in the day that the club's first-round selection was involved in a proposed failed trade to acquire goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames.
So what would it take to move the selection?
"A player that can fill a hole in our lineup right now, (although) I don't think that's likely," Treliving said." The next step with that is looking to possibly acquire more draft capital. We'll see. But I think it's probably more than likely right now that we're going to make the pick."
Treliving stressed the need to acquire defensemen as his No. 1 priority between now and July 1. Even if that comes at the cost of dealing with other pending unrestricted free-agent forwards like Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi after they hit the open market.
The Maple Leafs have four defensemen, Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins under contract for the upcoming season and just under $20 million in cap space to work with.
Dealing away a first-rounder could help fill a short-term need for a blue chip defender with term instead of paying for one on the open market.
"The right side of our defense, we'd like to help it right now," Treliving said. At what cost? And can you do that through the trade market? And what is it? You could probably trade for one, but are you creating another hole somewhere else? Right?
Translation, the Leafs probably need a big return that helps a weakness if they are to deal the 23rd selection in the draft on Friday.
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