Maple Leafs better off by missing out on Andersson

"Then again, perhaps the Maple Leafs are better off by missing out. The rationale lies in the price the Golden Knights paid for Andersson. The return was a third-pairing defenseman, a first-round pick, and a second-rounder. That second-rounder, however, could become a first-rounder if conditions are met. That was a steep price to pay. But from Vegas' point of view, it was worth it. From the Maple Leafs' point of view, it was doable."

"The Leafs don't have a first-round pick until 2028. While the Leafs have a 2027 second-rounder, they couldn't offer the conditions to make it a first-rounder until at least 2029. Unless the Maple Leafs somehow topped Vegas' offer, it was unlikely they were going to land Andersson. And that's a good thing. The Leafs can't afford to mortgage any more futures that the team just doesn't have."

Rasmus Andersson was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night after receiving an ovation following Calgary's game the previous night. Vegas sent a third-pairing defenseman, a first-round pick, and a conditional second-round pick that could upgrade to a first. Toronto lacked the draft assets and conditional flexibility to match that package because the Leafs do not possess a first-round pick until 2028 and could not make the second-rounder convert until at least 2029. The cost to acquire Andersson would have required mortgaging futures the Maple Leafs currently cannot spare. Retaining available picks preserves options for a possible rebuild and playoff uncertainty.

Read at Editor In Leaf