The NHL Draft is rolling into its second day, and there's a lot on the line as teams look to build their rosters for the future. The action kicks off at 11 am ET on SN, NHLN, and ESPN+, with rounds two through seven set to unfold throughout the afternoon. As we dive into the details, remember that the draft order from this point on is determined by regular season standings and playoff outcomes, not the lottery.
Focusing on Toronto, they've lined up six picks in this year's draft. The Leafs have been busy with trades leading up to the big day, and here's what they're working with:
- Pick #60, acquired from LA in exchange for Scott Laughton, originally belonging to Buffalo.
- Pick #69, their own third-round selection.
- Pick #85, coming from the Flyers as part of the Joe Woll/Simon Benoit trade.
- Pick #116, snagged from the Ducks via Seattle for Bobby McMann.
- Pick #158, courtesy of Colorado in return for Nic Roy.
- Pick #169, from San Jose, received for Timothy Liljegren.
Expect the second round to take its time, with Toronto's pick likely not coming up until after noon. But once the ball gets rolling, anything can happen.
In other news, the LA Kings have locked in defenseman Brandt Clarke with a hefty five-year deal, averaging $7.4 million annually through the 2030-31 season. This is a big move for the Kings as they solidify their blue line for the future.
Yesterday's trade activity was nothing short of a whirlwind. Buffalo made a splash by acquiring Olen Zellweger from the Ducks, sending Anton Wahlber and the 45th pick in today's second round the other way. Meanwhile, Ottawa added Andre Burakovsky to their roster, giving Chicago a 2027 sixth-round pick in return.
Boston, now with former Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams on board, brought in J.J. Peterka from Utah, trading away their first-round pick from last night and a 2028 first-rounder.
The Rangers made a bold move by securing the rights to unsigned RFA Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas, dealing the 26th overall pick from last night, a third-rounder today, and a 2028 first-rounder. They've since inked Dorofeyev to a seven-year, $11 million contract.
St. Louis added Mason McTavish from Anaheim, trading away their 15th and 29th picks from last night.
The Mammoth swapped picks with LA, moving up to number 17 last night in exchange for the 19th and a third-rounder today. San Jose also made moves, acquiring the 21st pick from Buffalo, along with a second and fourth-rounder for today.
Utah bolstered their goaltending by trading for Sebastian Cossa from Detroit, giving up the 23rd pick last night. Montréal maneuvered to get the 26th pick last night, trading the 28th and a third-round pick next year.
Anaheim moved up to the 28th spot from Vegas, trading the 29th pick last night and a fourth-rounder today. Finally, Nashville secured the 31st pick last night from Carolina, trading away two second-rounders today.
With all these moves, the stage is set for an exciting second day of the draft. Stay tuned as teams continue to shape their futures with each pick.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Just Made A Maccelli Decision Fans Will Debate All Day
The Maple Leafs made one of their more notable roster calls of the summer by moving on from Matias Maccelli instead of keeping the winger on a qualifying offer. Toronto had a chance to maintain control, but the decision leaves Maccelli free to explore the market as the team continues sorting out its forward mix under Craig Berube.
At the same time, the Leafs did keep other pieces in the organization, issuing qualifying offers to Nick Robertson, Emil Andrae and Jacob Quillan while also locking in defenseman Troy Stecher on a two-year extension. Robertson remains under team control, and Stechers deal adds some stability on the blue line, but the Maccelli move is the one that will draw the most second-guessing from fans as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Crease Gamble Could Spark An Even Bigger Move
Goaltending has a way of changing the rest of a roster, and the Maple Leafs could be staring at exactly that kind of ripple effect this summer. With a veteran netminder expected to hit free agency on July 1 after not re-signing with the Panthers, Toronto is said to be among the teams keeping tabs, a sign the club may be looking to upgrade a position that can reshape everything from the nightly lineup to the way the front office uses its assets.
The bigger question is what happens next if Toronto does make that kind of move. A new starter would not just stabilize the crease, it could also alter the value of Dennis Hildeby, whose name would suddenly look far more movable in the right deal, and that is where the trade chatter starts to get interesting for a team still trying to balance immediate help with long-term flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Draft Just Exposed A Front Office Obsession
John Chaykas fingerprints are all over this draft class, and not just in the names Toronto added. The Maple Leafs have made chemistry an obvious priority under his watch, from the coaching hire of Jim Hiller to the front-office addition of Mats Sundin, and that approach has carried right into the way the roster is being built from the ground up. The through line is familiar faces, shared experience and a comfort level that starts long before anyone steps onto NHL ice.
The draft only sharpened that picture. Toronto kept leaning into players who already know how to play together, especially a cluster with Team Canada World Juniors ties, while also making room for a different kind of piece in Yaroslav Fedoseyev. The message is hard to miss: this is not just about stacking skill, it is about building a team that already has some connective tissue, even if the front office is still leaving one more move or two to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]