Depends who you see as a contender.
Vancouver, Florida, Boston, Winnipeg, Tampa have spent their firsts this year already.
Vegas, Edmonton, NYR, Dallas, Toronto, Carolina, LAK, still have theirs.
And then there's 2025, 2026 picks, prospects, etc.
The top 8 in each conference is actually really well defined at this point. The East is pretty much set for playoff teams and the West is basically determining the final wildcard spot between NSH/STL/MIN
True, but many of the teams that still has a 1st left, have already sold a lot of draft capital for both - past and coming years.
For example ;
- Edmonton has already traded two picks this for this draft, and 2nd for '25.
- Rangers has already traded 2nds for both '25 and '26, and a 3rd for this year.
- Stars has already traded away two picks for this draft
- Leafs has already traded 1st for '25 , and 2nds for all three; 24,25 & 26.
- Kings has already traded 2nd, 3rd and 5th this year
- Avs has already traded 2nds for both '24 & '25, and 3rd '24.
- Canucks has already traded 1st and 2nd this year, 3rd for both '25 and '26
- Panthers has already traded 1sts for both '24 & '25. And a 2nd for this year too.
- Bruins has already traded 1st, 2nd, 3rd for this year, and 2nd and 4th for next year.
- Jets traded their 1st for this year
- Tampa has traded 1st for '24 & '25, alongside their 2nd this year.
For these 11 contending teams, next 3 years traded already out total of;
8 x 1st
14 x 2nd
8 x 3rd
So, a lot of used draft capital as it is. Its 22/66 of all the top60 picks these teams have total as together for
next 3 years, a third of all the picks. Add in the picks these teams used for last two trade deadlines, and it really mounts up.
You often hear GM's saying stuff like "we dont want to trade away 1st round picks for two drafts in a row" etc. Interesting to see if these same teams still decide to go heavy.
I do hope for the fireworks!