Leafs Draft 21st Overall - Overall Draft Order

[L K]

With Detroit and San Jose losing their Game 7 matchups, the Leafs draft position is made official.

1. Colorado		11. Philadelphia		21. Toronto
2. Florida		12. Phoenix		22. St. Louis
3. Tampa Bay		13. Winnipeg		23. Washington
4. Nashville		14. Columbus		24. Vancouver
5. Carolina		15. New York		25. Montreal
6. Calgary		16. Minnesota		26. Anaheim
7. Edmonton		17. New York		27.
8. Buffalo		18. Detroit		28.
9. New Jersey		19. Ottawa		29.
10. Dallas		20. San Jose		30.

*Buffalo gets Minnesota's 1st round pick from the Jason Pominville trade
*Columbus gets New York's 1st round pick for the Rick Nash trade
*Calgary gets St. Louis' 1st round pick from the Jay Boumeester trade
Pending draft picks
*LA's pick will go to Columbus from the Jack Johnson-Jeff Carter trade
*Boston's pick will go to Dallas from the Jagr trade
*Pittsburgh's pick will go to Calgary from the Iginla trade
*Chicago keeps it's pick.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The last time the Leafs picked 21st they selected Rask. Lets hope for more of the same, except, well, for that other part.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I looked up some of the players that might be available at 21. Kerby Rychel really stood out for me:

http://thehockeywriters.com/kerby-rychel-the-next-ones-2013-draft-prospect-profile/

 

[Peter D.]

Two things I'd like to see in particular this upcoming draft:

1. Nonis moving away from the Brian Burke mentality of drafting primarily big and tough players and instead picking a highly skilled player, even if it is a boom/bust scenario.  Particularly at the pick the Leafs are initially drafting at since it starts to become a crapshoot around that range.

2. The drafting of a goalie, with preference to one of the higher rated ones.  I've suggested before that I'd like to see the Leafs draft a guy they can get their hands on and develop from the outset.  Never hurts to have a steady stream of them in the pipeline and I believe right now that while the Leafs have a reasonable quantity of them in the system, they are lacking in quality.

 

[Zee]

I looked up some of the players that might be available at 21. Kerby Rychel really stood out for me:

http://thehockeywriters.com/kerby-rychel-the-next-ones-2013-draft-prospect-profile/

I don't like the line "His skating is one of very few questionable aspects of his game".

 

[Redleaf]

I looked up some of the players that might be available at 21. Kerby Rychel really stood out for me:

http://thehockeywriters.com/kerby-rychel-the-next-ones-2013-draft-prospect-profile/

Looks like a good one. Picking 21st doesn't mean we can't get a good first liner.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

Two things I'd like to see in particular this upcoming draft:

1. Nonis moving away from the Brian Burke mentality of drafting primarily big and tough players and instead picking a highly skilled player, even if it is a boom/bust scenario.  Particularly at the pick the Leafs are initially drafting at since it starts to become a crapshoot around that range.

2. The drafting of a goalie, with preference to one of the higher rated ones.  I've suggested before that I'd like to see the Leafs draft a guy they can get their hands on and develop from the outset.  Never hurts to have a steady stream of them in the pipeline and I believe right now that while the Leafs have a reasonable quantity of them in the system, they are lacking in quality.

I would rather see Nonis draft a big tough player who is also skilled...if that type of player exists.  The Senators, Sharks and Canucks have shown over the years that a team mostly made up of players who can dangle and make fancy plays don't go deep in the playoffs.  I do agree that the team needs additional skill, but the size has to be there as well.

 

[bustaheims]

2. The drafting of a goalie, with preference to one of the higher rated ones.  I've suggested before that I'd like to see the Leafs draft a guy they can get their hands on and develop from the outset.  Never hurts to have a steady stream of them in the pipeline and I believe right now that while the Leafs have a reasonable quantity of them in the system, they are lacking in quality.

While I agree that they should look at drafting a goalie, I'm generally against using a 1st round pick on one - especially when the team only has one pick in that round. Goalies have the highest potential not to turn into NHL players. They can't re-invent themselves like a forward or defenceman who doesn't pan out can.

 

[drummond]

Two things I'd like to see in particular this upcoming draft:

1. Nonis moving away from the Brian Burke mentality of drafting primarily big and tough players and instead picking a highly skilled player, even if it is a boom/bust scenario.  Particularly at the pick the Leafs are initially drafting at since it starts to become a crapshoot around that range.

2. The drafting of a goalie, with preference to one of the higher rated ones.  I've suggested before that I'd like to see the Leafs draft a guy they can get their hands on and develop from the outset.  Never hurts to have a steady stream of them in the pipeline and I believe right now that while the Leafs have a reasonable quantity of them in the system, they are lacking in quality.

We will see it right away in this years draft. Whether he opts for guy like Fredrik Gauthier (power forward, physical upside) or guy like Pavel Buchnevich (smallish, but explosive Russian forward) or Alexander Wennberg who seems to be just another very talented, versatile and durable Swede. I like the Wennberg kid, he already played among the men in Allsvenskan (2nd Swedish League) scoring impressive 32 pts. in 46 games, a member of silver U20 Swedish national team, next year he is supposed to play in Elitserien (Frolunda).

 

[Bender]

Two things I'd like to see in particular this upcoming draft:

1. Nonis moving away from the Brian Burke mentality of drafting primarily big and tough players and instead picking a highly skilled player, even if it is a boom/bust scenario.  Particularly at the pick the Leafs are initially drafting at since it starts to become a crapshoot around that range.

2. The drafting of a goalie, with preference to one of the higher rated ones.  I've suggested before that I'd like to see the Leafs draft a guy they can get their hands on and develop from the outset.  Never hurts to have a steady stream of them in the pipeline and I believe right now that while the Leafs have a reasonable quantity of them in the system, they are lacking in quality.

We will see it right away in this years draft. Whether he opts for guy like Fredrik Gauthier (power forward, physical upside) or guy like Pavel Buchnevich (smallish, but explosive Russian forward) or Alexander Wennberg who seems to be just another very talented, versatile and durable Swede. I like the Wennberg kid, he already played among the men in Allsvenskan (2nd Swedish League) scoring impressive 32 pts. in 46 games, a member of silver U20 Swedish national team, next year he is supposed to play in Elitserien (Frolunda).

Should ask Stebro

 

[Jalili]

I don't have enough input to contribute about this year's prospects, but I'll try anyway.

The last time we had picks in the 20-30 range Burke and the scouting staff played it safe with Biggs and Percy, neither of which were boom/bust picks.

It'll be interesting to see if Nonis does the same, or go for higher risk/higher reward prospects.

 

[lamajama]

No offense to Russians but I would stay away from them unless
you're in the Top 5 or 10 otherwise if they have to "mature" in the
AHL, you're really saying "KHL" and a slog to get them here.

 

[Kin]

No offense to Russians but I would stay away from them unless
you're in the Top 5 or 10 otherwise if they have to "mature" in the
AHL, you're really saying "KHL" and a slog to get them here.

I don't know that what you're talking about happens any more than, say, a guy like Justin Schultz not signing with the team who drafted him. Certainly not enough to be an all-purpose precaution.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

2. The drafting of a goalie, with preference to one of the higher rated ones.  I've suggested before that I'd like to see the Leafs draft a guy they can get their hands on and develop from the outset.  Never hurts to have a steady stream of them in the pipeline and I believe right now that while the Leafs have a reasonable quantity of them in the system, they are lacking in quality.

While I agree that they should look at drafting a goalie, I'm generally against using a 1st round pick on one - especially when the team only has one pick in that round. Goalies have the highest potential not to turn into NHL players. They can't re-invent themselves like a forward or defenceman who doesn't pan out can.

They'll use at least one pick on a goalie for sure. I seem to recall someone in the organization saying that they like to have at least one goalie playing in the CHL at all times, and with Sparks going pro they don't have any.

And if they're looking first round Zach Fucale should be available around 21. He's the top goalie in the draft. While I agree that goalies shouldn't be taken too high, the talent levels do seem rather weak in the 20s. Fucale could have the highest potential of anyone left.

 

[GFK27]

The last time the Leafs picked 21st they selected Rask. Lets hope for more of the same, except, well, for that other part.

I say lets go for broke and trade for a top 3 pick. I would trade Reimer  a first round pick , a roster player and a top prospect for a shot at Mckinnon. Then try to sign Mike Smith of Phoenix. Mckinnon is possible generational talent that doesn't along very often.

 

[Frank E]

Has there ever been a case where a team picking outside of the top 5 has ever traded for a #1 pick?

I know Rick Nash was picked by trading up a couple of spots...but the Leafs are way outside the top 5.

 

[bustaheims]

Has there ever been a case where a team picking outside of the top 5 has ever traded for a #1 pick?

I know Rick Nash was picked by trading up a couple of spots...but the Leafs are way outside the top 5.

1st overall picks don't get moved all that often, so, there's not much to base things on. That being said, outside of a handful of deals made well before the draft order was determined, there is only a single instance of a 1st overall pick being traded to a team that didn't already have a top 4 pick, and only one where the other team didn't have a top 3 pick. The only time it ever happened was in 1975.

 

[bustaheims]

Mckinnon is possible generational talent that doesn't along very often.

MacKinnon's going to be a very good player, but he's not a generational talent. He's much closer to a Tavares/Hall/RNH level talent. He's not a guy you blow up your team to acquire.

 

[Frank E]

Has there ever been a case where a team picking outside of the top 5 has ever traded for a #1 pick?

I know Rick Nash was picked by trading up a couple of spots...but the Leafs are way outside the top 5.

1st overall picks don't get moved all that often, so, there's not much to base things on. That being said, outside of a handful of deals made well before the draft order was determined, there is only a single instance of a 1st overall pick being traded to a team that didn't already have a top 4 pick, and only one where the other team didn't have a top 3 pick. The only time it ever happened was in 1975.

Thanks for looking that up Busta, I appreciate it...damn it though.

 

[bustaheims]

Thanks for looking that up Busta, I appreciate it...damn it though.

Yeah. It's not really a surprise, though. There's a significant drop off in the value of picks as you get deeper into the draft. On top of that, once you get later in the round, you find teams who are much more in "win now" mode, so they're less focused on adding prospects and less willing to give up valuable pieces off their roster or whatever high-end prospects they may still have in the system. No team that feels they're near a Cup is going to give up anyone they consider to be an important piece of their roster to get a top draft pick - unless there's a bona fide superstar that can step into a top role right away up there (like, in rare cases like Crosby, etc). And, no team with a top pick is going to trade that far into the 1st round without getting at least one significant NHL asset in return. There's just not going to be a match there that makes sense for both teams.