Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
1. It opens all manner of trade possibilities with EDM. I don't doubt for a second that Phaneuf and/or Kessel would waive NTCs with them. If there's any hesitation, Shanahan just gives it to them straight, they're no longer in the plans. And the chance to play with McDavid? Who wouldn't be tempted?
I think there are a couple things wrong with your premise here. To start:
1. The best possible scenario for the Leafs, outside of winning it themselves, was probably if Arizona or Buffalo had won it. Most people think this reduces the Leafs chances at Strome, who it seems to be the preferred pick at #4 if possible.
2. I don't think Phaneuf or Kessel, if they turn down a trade to Edmonton, would be particularly shocked to hear that they're not in the plans going forward. I think that's sort of goes hand in hand with the initial request to trade them. People don't want to live in Edmonton. That tends to trump a lot of things.
3. Buffalo almost certainly won't trade the Eichel pick or, at the very least, the cost will be prohibitively expensive. It's pretty clear from the way they were built that they were desperate to get one of these two picks.
4. Because there is a draw to playing with McDavid, Edmonton might very well feel as though they're able to be players in the UFA market, making a trade less likely.