Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
Disagree. I think this draft is going to be difficult to move pending UFAs for 1st round picks, even late ones. The players in top half of this draft are all reported to have top line/top pair potential and even the second half and into the second round looks to have top six/top four potential. Most teams will sit on that potential over giving it up for a year of even a great player. Treliving may have thought that stuff was okay, but good GMs know you keep those picks to keep your organization well stocked and your cap healthy. In a weak draft you can take the chance, but if you think you're getting a player that will crack your top 10, you don't make that trade.
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The problem is the Flames missed the boat a little by not being honest and trying to sell some of those 2024 UFAs in the 15 days leading up to the deadline.
Florida, Islanders, Lightning, Kings, Stars, Oilers, Leafs, Devils, and Bruins have all already moved their 2023 first round pick.
So most of the teams that might be looking to gear up for the 2023-2024 season already don't have their first.
Vegas, Toronto (Boston's 1st), Carolina, Colorado, Seattle, Winnipeg, Minnesota are the only playoff teams that even have a 2023 1st to move.
And I think you could throw Pittsburgh, Washington, and St Louis (they have 3) into that mix that would likely move a 1st for the right deal.
So it will be tough...but less because smart GMs don't move those picks. But because the GMs willing to move them already did.