What the Bruins’ elimination means for the first-round pick the Leafs acquired in Sandin deal with Capitals

With the Boston Bruins bowing out in the first round of the playoffs to the Florida Panthers, we now know when the Toronto Maple Leafs will make their first selection in this summer’s draft.

The Leafs acquired the Bruins’ first-round pick back in late February in what was essentially a three-way trade between Toronto, Boston, and Washington. The Bruins acquired Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway from the Capitals in exchange for a first-round draft pick among other things, and that first-round pick was flipped to the Leafs a few days later in a deal for Rasmus Sandin.

Leafs trade Rasmus Sandin to Capitals for Erik Gustafsson, Boston’s first-round pick https://t.co/oGCKC0RlBf
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) February 28, 2023

The Bruins put together the strongest regular season in league history and won the Presidents’ Trophy handily but the NHL bases the draft order on how far teams go in the playoffs. Picks No. 29 and No. 30 go to the two teams that lose in the Conference Finals, the No. 31 pick goes to the team that loses in the Stanley Cup Final, and the No. 32 goes to the team that wins it all.
So, since Boston had the league’s best record and won’t advance any further in the playoffs, we know their pick will be slotted in at No. 28 overall. Barring any other moves, this will be Toronto’s first pick in the upcoming draft, as they moved their own first-round pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari.
The Leafs have selected No. 28 overall twice in their history. They drafted Jeff Jackson in 1983 and Daniel Marois in 1987 and they went on to play 263 and 350 games in the league respectively. Some notable players who were sele …

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Author: Cam Lewis / The Leafs Nation

Bruins edge Leafs 2-1 in a second round playoff preview: Game Highlights

The Leafs and Bruins faced off for the final time in the regular season on Thursday night. It was a low scoring, chippy affair that felt a lot like a playoff preview. Of course, the Leafs will have to win a round first, but there is a good chance these two squads meet again in the postseason. Below are the highlights from the game.
There weren’t many quality scoring chances early in the first period. The game’s first notable highlight came in the form of a fight. AJ Greer took exception to Sam Lafferty’s hit on Matt Grzelcyk. Then the two depth forwards engaged in a spirited tilt. The Leafs went to powerplay afterward due to an instigator penalty on Greer…

Lafferty and Greer drop the mitts! 🥊 pic.twitter.com/aEFc0tzNEu
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2023

Jake DeBrusk had one of Boston’s better opportunities of the first period. Ilya Samsonov turned his wrister away with the shoulder…

high shot off the shoulder for Sammy pic.twitter.com/nhGbH1Epua
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 6, 2023

The goaltending battle continued in the second period. The two teams traded chances partway through the middle frame. Samsonov’s save started the counter attack for the Leafs but Jeremy Swayman read the play perfectly and denied William Nylander…

Both goalies are locking it down so far to keep the game tied 0-0. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/0LNV9J9Om7
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 7, 2023

Toronto finally broke the deadlock more than halfway through the game. David Pastrnak had an uncharacteristic turnover leaving his defensive zone. Sam Lafferty intercepted the careless pass, got the puck deep, drove the net and deposited the game’s first goal…

Starts with LaffsEnds with Laffs! pic.twitter.com/RWKhbxfBOj
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 7, 2023

The Leafs held onto the lead for most of the third period but one goal is rarely enough t …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

Potential target: Scott Mayfield

This past Saturday the Islanders lost 6-2 to the Bruins. A far bigger loss, however, was Matt Barzal. The dynamic forward left the game with a lower-body injury, and his status is week-to-week. Barzal has put up 51 points in 58 games and is heavily relied upon at even strength and special teams.
The Islanders are hopeful he may return before the playoffs, but they will undoubtedly be without their most skilled player during the push. New York currently sits in a wild card spot, and they have virtually no chance of catching the high-flying Devils, Hurricanes, or Rangers. Despite currently sitting in a playoff spot, the Red Wings, Sabres, and Penguins all have a higher point percentage.
Off the back of losing their star man and with hungry teams licking their chops just below them, could the New York Islanders become sellers? Perhaps they don’t fully tear it down, but instead, look to capitalize on some of their expiring contracts. If that becomes the case, the Leafs should consider acquiring Scott Mayfield.
Mayfield has spent his entire career with the New York Islanders having been drafted by them in the second round of the 2011 NHL draft. He’s played 406 games and amassed 102 points so far. He …

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Author: Bennett Jull / The Leafs Nation

Miller signing, suspensions and Leafs earn Team of the Week: Around the Atlantic

Miller signing, suspensions and Leafs earn Team of the Week: Around the Atlantic

It was a controversial week in the Atlantic division. The Boston Bruins dominated the headlines with their signing of Mitchell Miller and two players were suspended. Also, for the first time this season the Leafs have earned the Team of the Week honour.
Miller signing
On Friday the Bruins signed Miller to an entry level contract. Two days later they have parted ways. Immediately after Miller was signed, the entire hockey world lost respect for Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, and the Bruins organization.
Either the Bruins management team is completely inept, or they didn’t care about Miller’s past. Neely claimed they thought Miller’s bullying of Isaiah Meyer-Crothers was an “isolated incident” and they changed their mind on signing him based off new information.
The story of Miller’s repeated physical and emotional abuse of Meyer-Crothers has been public since Miller was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2020. There is no way the Bruins were unaware of the extent of Miller’s bullying.
Neely and the Bruins only chose to rescind their contract offer to Miller because of the public backlash. Had the blowback not been so extreme, Miller would be playing professional hockey in Providence right now.
This is another tough look for the NHL …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation