Looking at the 2019, 2020, 2021 drafts and really the only misfire the Leafs had with a top-60ish pick was Amirov. Sandin, Durzi, Robertson, Hirvonen, Niemela, and Knies all seem like pretty great picks, and arguably maybe the best players available at the time they were picked even with hindsight. That feels like a pretty big accomplishment actually.
I wouldn't trade Sandin for any of the NHLers who were taken in his range after him (Veleno, Romanov, McLeod).
Durzi, who I didn't love as a prospect although that's probably just because I was jaded about overagers at that point, just put up 27 points in 46 games in his rookie season. The only player taken after him in the entire draft who has put up numbers that are as impressive as that is Yegor Sharangovich and he was picked way later in the 5th round.
Even just looking at a guy like Robertson, who has obviously had some injury set backs, I don't see anyone obvious who was picked after him and has played NHL games that I'd trade him for.
Hirvonen and Niemela, especially the latter, have both improved their post-draft stock so far and for what it's worth there's really nobody taken after that who jump out as a missed opportunity.
Knies is generally considered as somebody who would move up into 1st round territory if there was an early redraft attempt and is arguably our top prospect at this time.
We haven't had any steals from the later portions of the draft but I also think we just need to be a little more realistic because even teams that draft really well often get shutout there. But for what it's worth players like Abruzzese and Holmberg and knocking on the door now.
I understand the idea of wanting to move to a slightly more "safer" draft philosophy because the team as it stands right now kinda needs young players sooner rather than later (and it feels like the Leafs agreed based on the Fraser Minten selection) but I think their drafting is getting knocked a little more than it should be right now.
I wouldn't trade Sandin for any of the NHLers who were taken in his range after him (Veleno, Romanov, McLeod).
Durzi, who I didn't love as a prospect although that's probably just because I was jaded about overagers at that point, just put up 27 points in 46 games in his rookie season. The only player taken after him in the entire draft who has put up numbers that are as impressive as that is Yegor Sharangovich and he was picked way later in the 5th round.
Even just looking at a guy like Robertson, who has obviously had some injury set backs, I don't see anyone obvious who was picked after him and has played NHL games that I'd trade him for.
Hirvonen and Niemela, especially the latter, have both improved their post-draft stock so far and for what it's worth there's really nobody taken after that who jump out as a missed opportunity.
Knies is generally considered as somebody who would move up into 1st round territory if there was an early redraft attempt and is arguably our top prospect at this time.
We haven't had any steals from the later portions of the draft but I also think we just need to be a little more realistic because even teams that draft really well often get shutout there. But for what it's worth players like Abruzzese and Holmberg and knocking on the door now.
I understand the idea of wanting to move to a slightly more "safer" draft philosophy because the team as it stands right now kinda needs young players sooner rather than later (and it feels like the Leafs agreed based on the Fraser Minten selection) but I think their drafting is getting knocked a little more than it should be right now.
