The Toronto Maple Leafs have given no hint as to whom they will drafting #1 overall in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft, but one of their players may have tipped their hand.
In a recent interview with Sportsnet's Hockey Central at Noon, defenseman Morgan Rielly revealed that Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock spent a great deal of time speaking with, and getting to know, Auston Matthews at the World Championship tournament. Even more time than he spent talking to his own player at the event.
"[Mike Babcock] spent more time talking to him than he did talking to me," said Rielly.
Matthews is the man most believe will be the top pick in the draft, in large part because of the position he plays, center, although after Patrick Laine's MVP performance at the tournament many had questioned whether or not the Leafs could consider drafting the dynamic winner at #1.
This is of course in no way an official announcement from the Leafs, but it does seem to indicate they are at the very least leaning towards Matthews.
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