NHL Draft Pick Movement: 5 Potential Pick-Swapping Scenarios

NHL Draft Pick Movement is Bound to Happen at June’s Draft in Buffalo; 5 Potential Pick-Swapping Scenarios

We see NHL draft pick movement every year at June’s annual festivities. While some teams have traded away picks to chase a Stanley Cup, other rebuilding teams have managed to accumulate.

When all 30 teams come together at the NHL draft, those clubs rich in draft picks tend to package them to move up and snag that prospect at the top of their draft board who somehow managed to fall.

In today’s NHL where salary cap reins king, and teams are more reliant on younger players with entry-level contracts, the philosophy to draft and develop is more important than ever.

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For teams such as Anaheim, Florida, Los Angeles, and Minnesota (among others), sacrifices were made this past season in an attempt to build for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Now the attention turns to replacing at least part of those valuable draft picks that were lost.

For teams like the Ducks and Wild, who don’t pick again until the 4th round (after their 1st round selection), those clubs need to figure out whether it’s worth trading down to accumulate two or three extra draft picks.

*please note that any of Pittsburgh/San Jose’s selections will rank within the last two picks of each round (winner picking last). Draft pick information is from GeneralFanager.

NHL Draft Pick Movement: Who Needs Picks? Who Has Picks to Trade?

Potentially Needs Picks/Prospects (5 or Less Picks – With a 2nd Rounder or Better)

Anaheim – 5
1(24), 3(83), 4(92), 4(114), 7(204)

Columbus – 5
1(3), 2(34), 3(64), 6(154), 7(184)

Florida – 5
1(23), 4(113), 5(139), 6(173), 6(174)

Los Angeles – 4
2(51), 4(111), 5(141), 7(201)

Minnesota – 4
1(15), 4(105), 7(195), 7(203)

NY Islanders – 5
1(19), 4(109), 6(169), 7(192), 7 (199)

Pittsburgh – 5
2(54), 2(60), 4(120), 5(150), 6(180)

San Jose – 5
2(59), 4(119), 5(149), 6(179), 7(209)

Related Story: 10 Potential 1st Round Steals

Extra Picks to Trade (10 or More Picks)

Buffalo – 12
1(8), 2(38), 3(68), 3(84), 3(85), 3(88), 4 (98), 5(128), 5(129), 6(158), 7(188), 7(189)

Calgary – 10
1(6), 2(35), 2(53), 2(55), 3(65), 4(95), 5(125), 6(155), 6(165), 7(185)

Carolina – 10
1(13), 1(21), 2(43), 2(50), 3(66), 3(73), 3(74), 4(103), 5(133), 6(163)

Philadelphia – 10
1(18), 2(48), 2(52), 3(78), 3(81), 4(108), 5(138), 6(168), 6(171), 7(198)

Toronto – 12
1(1), 1(30), 2(31), 2(56), 3(61), 3(71), 4(91), 4(100), 5(121), 6(151), 6(178), 7(181)

Related Story: Aly's First Round Mock: Pre-Draft Day Edition

NHL Draft Pick Movement: 5 Potential Pick Swapping Scenarios

Toronto Maple Leafs trade 29th/30th overall and 2nd round 56th overall pick to Anaheim Ducks for 24th overall pick

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It’s not overly uncommon for teams to trade up five spots or so in the first round, the Leafs were the recipient of that extra pick last year.

The price is still the same to move up – a late 2nd/early 3rd along with that pick to close out the first.

Shanahan and company only consider this option if a prospect high on their draft board falls and they feel the need to jump up and grab them.

Toronto Maple Leafs trade 29th/30th overall, 2nd round 31st overall, and 4th round 91st overall to Minnesota for 15th overall pick

The Wild own the 15th overall pick. They don’t pick again until the 4th round, and then again twice in the 7th. Working with only four picks total, don’t be surprised if Minnesota trades their first round selection to accumulate more prospects.

Buffalo Sabres trade 2nd round 38th overall, 3rd round 84th overall, and 3rd round 85th overall to Florida Panthers for 23rd overall pick

Other than a first rounder, the Panthers only have a 4th, 5th, and two 6th rounders at the 2016 NHL Draft.

They moved a lot of quality picks around the deadline, and could look to re-accumulate some of them. Buffalo has two picks, same as Toronto, making them a lead candidate for trading up at June’s draft at their home arena.

Calgary Flames trade 2nd round 35th overall, 2nd round 55th overall, and 4th round 95th overall to New York Islanders for 19th overall pick

After moving up last year to select Anthony Beauvillier, it’s more likely the Islanders look to trade down in 2016. They only have a 1st, 4th, 6th, and two 7th rounders to work with. Calgary has 10 picks, several of which are top five in each round.

Carolina Hurricanes trade 21st overall and 3rd round 61st overall to Minnesota for 15th overall pick

The cost to move up five or six spots in the first round has generally cost teams an extra late 2nd/early 3rd round pick in recent years. So should be the same in 2016, and Carolina is a prime candidate to move up in the first round.

Next: NHL Mock Draft 5.5: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis

Moving up six picks to 15th overall can be the difference between drafting (possibly) a falling Clayton Keller or a German Rubtsov type player. It’s not to say hidden talents won’t eventually emerge from late 1st selections, but there’s a distinctive drop-off beyond the top 15 prospects or so.