Kyle Dubas limits Leafs' options to trade 2025 first-round pick

When he left the Maple Leafs for the Pittsburgh Penguins last year, he left incoming boss Brad Treliving from the Calgary Flames, with very little draft capital for the next three seasons. Treliving can't even trade the 2025 first-round draft pick.

The issue stems from the conditions of the Jake McCabe trade in 2022. The Leafs' 2025 first-round pick is "top-10 protected," meaning if they end up in the bottom 10 teams that year, the pick slides to 2026.

Now, Toronto won't be a bottom-feeder this year and can trade the pick. However, they're likely not going to trade the selection to a team selling players and aiming to tank for a James Hagens or Micheal Misa in the 2025 NHL draft.

Yet, it doesn't take away from the fact this condition seems pointless, as Dubas likely never expected the Leafs to be in that range. It's just further proof that while you can take Dubas out of the Leafs, you can't take the Leafs out of Dubas reign for the immediate future.

Source: Maple Leafs Daily
Kyle Dubas costs the Leafs the ability to move their 2026 first round pick