Toronto Maple Leafs send second round pick to complete trade with Arizona Coyotes

In a move that could impact the Toronto Maple Leafs' future draft strategy, the team has reportedly sent a 2025 second-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes. The trade completes a deal made last February that sent forward Nick Ritchie to Arizona in exchange for defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and forward Ryan Dzingel.

According to TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston, the Coyotes were given a choice between the Leafs' 2023 third-round pick or the 2025 second-rounder. In the end, Arizona opted for the latter.

While the move solidifies the previous trade between the two teams, it does leave Toronto with just three draft picks remaining in the upcoming draft (a third, fifth, and sixth-rounder). The team no longer has its second and third-round picks in 2024 or its second and fourth-round picks in 2025.

This could impact the Toronto Maple Leafs' future draft strategy, as they have already traded away a significant number of picks in recent trades. Just last week, the team dealt away their 2023 first, 2024 second, and 2025 fourth-round picks as part of the Ryan O'Reilly trade.

Last March, they also traded away their 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for defenseman Mark Giordano.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, it remains to be seen whether the Leafs will make any more moves to bolster their roster for a playoff push. However, with a limited number of draft picks at their disposal in the coming years, they will have to be strategic in how they approach their future draft strategy.

Toronto Maple Leafs' 2022-23 season so far

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been performing impressively this season, currently holding the second position in the Atlantic Division with 78 points. They are in a strong position to secure a top-four finish, leading the third-placed Tampa Bay Lightning by three points with an additional game in hand.

The team has been exceptional offensively, with William Nylander and Auston Matthews providing a significant boost, contributing a total of 57 goals so far. John Tavares and Auston Matthews have also been instrumental in creating and converting chances, further strengthening the team's offensive prowess.

Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been solid, allowing an average of just 2.6 goals per game. The goaltenders, led by Ilya Samsonov, have been in excellent form, with a save percentage of 0.915.

The addition of Ryan O'Reilly has further improved the team's stability and performance. As the season reaches its critical stages, the Leafs will be focused on avoiding any losses, especially against weaker teams that could potentially harm their prospects for the remainder of the season.