We’re just under one month away from the 2018 NHL Draft, which is hosted by the Dallas Stars this year because the NHL likes the Montreal Canadiens better than the Maple Leafs and gave away most of the centennial celebrations to lesser teams.
So now the important question is: where do the Toronto Maple Leafs have picks in this draft?
The Maple Leafs have picks in rounds one to five and two picks in round seven, leaving only the sixth round without the Maple Leafs in it. The Leafs traded that pick along with Tobias Lindberg to the Vegas Golden Knights for Calvin Pickard. For now anyway, because there could always be trades leading up to the draft or at the draft. So let’s take a look at the Maple Leafs draft standing.
Round 1 - 25th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Serron Noel (RW), Oshawa Generals, OHL
Previous picks at #25 by Toronto:
2011 - Stuart Percy (D) - Leafs stats: 12GP - 0G - 3A - 3Pts
1984 - Todd Gill (D) - Leafs stats: 639GP - 59G - 210A - 269Pts
1982 - Peter Ihnacak (C) - 417GP - 102G - 165A - 267Pts
1980 - Craig Muni (D) - 19GP - 0G - 2A - 2Pts
The Maple Leafs are 2/4 at pick #25 in the draft, with long time Leafs Peter Ihnacak and Todd Gill suiting up for the blue and white.
Related
What can the Maple Leafs expect out of a 25th overall pick?
Round 2 - 52nd overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Nando Eggenberger, W, HC Davos, NLA
Pick acquired from San Jose Sharks along with 2017 2nd round pick and Raffi Torres in exchange for Roman Polak and Nick Spaling
Previous picks at #52 by Toronto:
1976 - Gary McFadyen (RW) - Never played in NHL
1973 - Frank Rochon (LW) - Never played in NHL
The Leafs have only picked twice at #52 and never saw an NHL player from that position. Frank Rochon was probably the best chance but chose to sign with the WHA Chicago Cougars for what I can only assume is more money than what Harold Ballard offered.
Round 3 - 83rd overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Riley Sutter, RW, Everett Silvertips, WHL
Pick acquired from San Jose Sharks along with Alex Stalock and Ben Smith in exchange for James Reimer and Jeremy Morin
Previous picks at #83 by Toronto:
1983 - Dan Hodgson (C) - Leafs Stats: 40GP - 13G - 12A - 25Pts
1977 - John Wilson (LW) - Never played in the NHL
Hodgson played half a season with the Maple Leafs before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with Jim Benning in exchange for Rick Lantz. The only other 83rd pick never played after his OHL career finished.
Round 4 - 118th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Andrew Bruder, F, Niagara IceDogs, OHL
First time picking at this position
The Maple Leafs have never picked 118th before, so it’s time for history to be made. May I suggest Andrew Bruder from the Niagara IceDogs for no other reason than he plays for Niagara?
Round 5 - 149th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Brandon Saigeon, C, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL
Previous picks at #149 by Toronto:
1993 - Paul Vincent (LW) - Never played in the NHL
1992 - Patrick Augusta (LW) - Leafs stats: 2GP - 0G - 0A - 0Pts
1978 - Mike Waghorne (D) - Never played in the NHL
1977 - Ray Robertson (D) - Never played in the NHL
1975 - Paul Evans (RW) - Leafs stats: 11GP - 1G - 0A - 1Pt
Not a great spot for the Leafs to pick, the only managed 13 NHL games out of five picks. Paul Vincent had the longest career out of the five though, he retired in 2015 after playing his final eight seasons in the Dutch league.
Round 7 - 209th overall
Pick acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jhonas Enroth
seldo’s preferred pick: Justin McPherson, D, Niagara IceDogs, OHL
Previous picks at #209 by Toronto:
2012 - Viktor Loov (D) - Leafs stats: 4GP - 0G - 2A - 2Pts
2000 - Markus Seikola (D) - Never played in the NHL
Four games out of two picks, Seikola never left Finland and Loov would be traded to the New Jersey Devils after 3 seasons on the Marlies in exchange for Sergey Kalinin.
Round 7 - 211th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Keaton Middleton, D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL
Previous picks at #211 by Toronto:
1999 - Vladimir Kulikov (G) - Never played in NHL
1985 - Tim Armstrong (C) - Leafs stats: 11GP - 1G - 0A - 1Pt
Kulikov stayed in Russia, and Armstrong played a few seasons in the AHL before retiring in 1991.
Seven rounds, seven picks. We’ll see if the Leafs can add any more picks before the draft.
