On Thursday night, the Florida Panthers surprised many by winning the second game of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With two victories on the opponent's ice, the Panthers have gained a significant advantage in the series, which will move to Sunrise next Sunday.
Indeed, we recall that Kent Hughes brilliantly included a 1st round pick for 2023 in the trade that sent Ben Chiarot to Florida last year. This pick, which we had hoped to see in the top 10 a few months ago, keeps getting further away. If the Panthers win the series, it could be between the 29th and 32nd spots. If not, the Canadiens will draft at the 17th position.
The quality of this pick will be crucial for Kent Hughes, who, according to rumors, could very well repeat at the next draft with another transaction like the Kirby Dach type. The higher his pick, the better the chances of achieving this.
If this pick is ultimately towards the end of the first round, as everything seems to be heading that way, Hughes will have to give even more to make a trade with it. It will be difficult for the general manager to execute his plan.
Hughes and Gorton must secretly hope that their longtime enemies, the Toronto Maple Leafs, wake up and turn the tide!
