As owners of the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, the Florida Panthers have no doubt received numerous calls from general managers around the league to see what it would take to get the pick away from them.
NHL trade rumors: Maple Leafs offering James van Riemsdyk in package for No. 1 pick?
Would the Toronto Maple Leafs be willing to give up a player as good as James van Riemsdyk for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft?
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According to the NHL Network's Mike Kelly, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have been one of those teams, and forward James van Riemsdyk may be part of the offer.
Hearing Panthers seriously considering an offer from the Maple Leafs for the #1 overall pick. JVR centerpiece with others going to FLA
— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) June 27, 2014 General manager Dale Tallon has repeatedly said he’s willing to listen to offers, and even mentioned on Thursday night that he had received one offer that went above and beyond what he considered to be fair value. An offer from Toronto that would be centered around van Riemsdyk sure seems like it might fit that description.
NHL Draft
Not only is he signed to a long-term contract, he is still only 25 years old and is coming off a monster season that saw him score 30 goals for the Maple Leafs.
In a draft where there is no consensus No. 1 overall pick, there would have to be a player at the top of the draft that Toronto feels it absolutely must have (perhaps a potential No. 1 center like Sam Bennett or Sam Reinhart?) to even consider giving up a player as good as van Riemsdyk that is still signed and still in the prime of his career.
The No. 1 pick in the draft has not been traded since the Panthers did it in 2002 and 2003.
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