Mar 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic (3) skates with puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The trade winds were in full force at the 2017 NHL Draft, with the Leafs making headlines after an apparent attempt to bolster their blue line.

The Toronto Maple Leafs came into the draft weekend rumoured to be in the thick of multiple trade discussions, none gaining more traction than their pursuit of former Islanders defensemen, Travis Hamonic.

Hamonic presented an attractive option for the thin Maple Leafs blue line. Providing them with top pairing potential and a coveted right-handed shot for head coach Mike Babcock.

According to numerous reports, Toronto offered the Islanders a package of James van Riemsdyk and the teams 2018 first-round selection in exchange for the 26-year-olds services.

The Islanders ultimately dealt Hamonic to the Calgary Flames for a 2018 first-round pick and two second-round selections.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joined Naylor and Landsberg Monday morning and expressed his uncertainty regarding the validity of Toronto’s rumoured package.

This is full disclosure: I did not dive deep into the Toronto Maple Leafs interest in Travis Hamonic. I knew they were talking with Snow through my Islanders sources, but I just flat out asked him Friday whether James van Riemsdyk was being offered, and the message I got back from the Islanders was “no”. Reportedly, that changed, but I’m not certain a first-round draft pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs was ever included. That tells me that Toronto is maintaining its position when it comes to moving out those young pieces.

By Dreger’s own omission, he did not delve deep into the trade discussions. But the TSN Insider’s status in the industry gives his uncertainties more clout than that of the average reporter.

What Does This Mean?

Most likely, nothing.

Toronto’s front office are as tight-lipped as they come. For that reason, it is hard to envision a scenario, short of the Leafs pulling the trigger on a similar deal, where we’ll ever know if Lamoriello and company are in fact shopping first-rounders in trade discussions.

If the draft day reports are true, then Leafs management believe their current collection of young talent are only a couple of key pieces away from becoming contenders.

The Leafs activity over the coming weeks will hopefully shed more light on the organizations long term mentality.