In this coming NHL Entry Draft the Leafs have managed to assemble at least one pick in each round which should provide them with a good opportunity to refill the system with prospects. Having picks in each round will also provide a good opportunity to move up or down in each round if they see a reason to.
This will be the first draft with Brian Burke at the helm and it should prove interesting to see what influence he has over a scouting staff that has remained primarily the same for the last 5 years.
The team as a whole lacks any true prospects and Leaf fans will be expecting big things from Brian Burke and the Leaf scouting staff this year. Look for the Leafs to grab a power forward like Brayden Schenn or Evander Kane with their first pick if they are available.
DRAFT DATE
June 26-27, 2009
GENERAL MANAGER
Brian Burke
SCOUTING DEPARTMENT
Director of Amateur Scouting
Dave Morrison
Amateur Scouts
Mike Palmateer
George Armstrong
John Lilley
Garth Malarchuk
Clint McConnachie
Alan Power
Gary Harker
CURRENT DRAFT POSITION
7th Overall
NUMBER OF DRAFT PICKS
8 Total (5 Original, 3 via Trade)
FIRST ROUND
One Pick (Toronto)
SECOND ROUND
Two Picks (1) Carolina and (1) NY Rangers
THIRD ROUND
One Pick (Toronto)
FOURTH ROUND
One Pick (Carolina) - Lost due to league sanctions
FIFTH ROUND
One Pick (Toronto)
SIXTH ROUND
One Pick (Toronto)
SEVENTH ROUND
One Pick (Toronto)
TEAM NEEDS (In Order of Priority)
Scoring Forwards
Power Forwards
Goaltending
Puck Moving / Offensive Defensemen
Shut Down Defensemen
INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES
TOP 30 DRAFT ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
As of April 23, 2009
| RANK | NAME | POS | LEAUGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| {RANK} | {NAME} | {POS} | {LEAUGE} |
LIKELY LEAF 1ST ROUND SELECTION TARGETS
BRAYDEN SCHENN
CENTRE
HEIGHT: 6'0 | WEIGHT: 198
WHL STATS
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS |
| 2008-09 | 70 | 32 | 56 | 88 |
| 2007-08 | 66 | 28 | 43 | 71 |
EVANDER KANE
CENTRE
HEIGHT: 5'11 | WEIGHT: 160
WHL STATS
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS |
| 2008-09 | 61 | 48 | 48 | 96 |
| 2007-08 | 65 | 24 | 17 | 41 |
NAZEM KADRI
CENTRE
HEIGHT: 6'1 | WEIGHT: 177
OHL STATS
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS |
| 2008-09 | 56 | 25 | 53 | 78 |
| 2007-08 | 68 | 25 | 40 | 65 |
The 2008 draft was Cliff Fletcher's 1st and only draft in his second go around as GM of the Leafs. He had only been on the job for roughly 6 months before the draft.
The highlight of the 2008 Draft came early for the Leafs when Fletcher traded his 1st round pick, 2nd round pick and a fourth round pick in 2009 to move up 2 spots and grab the last of the 4 highly touted defensemen in the draft, Luke Schenn. While it seemed like a lot to move up just 2 spots, Schenn's emergence as a legitimate NHL defensemen at the age of 18 quickly put to rest any doubts about the price Fletcher paid.
DRAFT DATE
June 20-21, 2008
GENERAL MANAGER
Cliff Fletcher
ORIGINAL DRAFT POSITION
7th Overall (traded up to select 5th in the 1st round)
NUMBER OF DRAFT PICKS
8 Total
FIRST ROUND
One Pick
SELECTED
D Luke Schenn (5th Overall) | League: NHL
SECOND ROUND
One Pick
SELECTED
RW Jimmy Hayes (60th Overall) | League: NCAA
THIRD ROUND
NONE
FOURTH ROUND
1 Pick
SELECTED
C Mikhail Stefanovich (98th Overall) | League: QMJHL
FIFTH ROUND
3 Picks
SELECTED
D Greg Pateryn (128th Overall) | League: NCAA
C Joel Champagne (129th Overall) | League: QMJHL
LW Jerome Flaake (130th Overall) | League: DEL
SIXTH ROUND
1 Pick
SELECTED
G Grant Rollheiser (158th Overall) | League: NCAA
SEVENTH ROUND
One Pick
SELECTED
D Andrew MacWilliam (188th Overall) | League: AJHL
The 2007 draft was the last draft for John Ferguson Jr. as GM of the Maple Leafs. This draft saw the Leafs trade their 1st and 2nd picks as well as a 4th in 2009 to San Jose for G Vesa Toskala and RW Mark Bell.
The move was indicative of the type of thinking that the Leafs have been guilty of for decades - trading potential prospects for minor upgrades to try and make the playoffs with an aging roster.
While the move cost the Leafs some potential prospects early on in the draft they may have made up for that mistake by drafting Chris DiDominico in the 6th round. The forward was impressive at Leafs Rookie Camp and played on the top line along side 2009 projected #1 pick John Tavares for Canada at this year's World Junior Championship.
DRAFT DATE
June 22-23, 2007
GENERAL MANAGER
John Ferguson Jr.
ORIGINAL DRAFT POSITION
13th Overall (Traded to San Jose)
NUMBER OF DRAFT PICKS
6 Total
FIRST ROUND
None
SECOND ROUND
None
THIRD ROUND
1 Pick
SELECTED
RW Dale Mitchell (74th Overall) | League: OHL/AHL
FOURTH ROUND
2 Picks
SELECTED
RW Matt Frattin (99th Overall) | League: NCAA
LW Ben Winnett (104th Overall) | League: NCAA
FIFTH ROUND
1 Pick
SELECTED
D Juraj Mikus (134th Overall) | League: Slovak
SIXTH ROUND
1 Pick
SELECTED
C Chris DiDomenico (164th Overall) | League: QMJHL
SEVENTH ROUND
One Pick
SELECTED
D Carl Gunnarsson (194th Overall) | League: SEL