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Insider appears to believe Leafs may accelerate rebuild at the draft.
 

Insider appears to believe Leafs may accelerate rebuild at the draft.

Are the Leafs entering the next phase of the Shanaplan?

HockeyFeed

HockeyFeed

The Toronto Maple Leafs, guided by the hand of Brendan Shanahan, have made a noticeable change to their club, promoting their young talent and stockpiling a huge number of picks over the next two drafts. The plan was for a long, slow and steady rebuild but drafting the first overall pick in the draft may have accelerated that plan.

According to comments made by ESPN insider Pierre Lebrun, it certainly sounds like Toronto will look to do just that at the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. LeBrun expressed his belief that the Leafs could use "many" of their picks in trades.

"I think many of these will be used in deals to improve the club."

Toronto currently holds twelve picks in this draft, including multiple picks in each of the first four rounds, giving them a great deal of flexibility. The Leafs also have more than $7.5 million in cap space to work with this offseason should they chose to do so.

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