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2015 NHL Mock Draft: Maple Leafs First Round (24th) Pick

ByTim Chiasson|

The NHL division for FanSided continues with the 2015 NHL Mock Draft.

With the 24th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Mock Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs select….

Brandon Carlo, Defence, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

After taking Mitchell Marner earlier in the FanSided 2015 NHL Mock Draft I turned my focus to the blueline. Of the defenders that were still on the board, and even looking at a few taken before him, there’s no defender as big and as talented as Brandon Carlo.

Carlo is a 6’4″, 198 lbs, right shot defender who primarily focuses on the defensive side of the game. There isn’t a jaw-dropping amount of offense to Carlo’s game – but he’s a competent puck mover who has no difficulty on zone exits.

In the 2014-2015 season for the Tri-City Americans, Carlo recorded four goals and 21 assists for 25 points in 63 games, a healthy increase from the 13 points in 71 games he posted the previous year with Tri-City.

A big positive for his game is how well he can skate given his big size. He also boasts a very good hockey IQ.

"“His hockey IQ is very good which helps him in his decision making. It allows him to play a smart technical game,” – Tri-City Americans GM Bob Tory (WHL.ca)"

Carlo’s discipline will need work to make the jump to the NHL – especially under Mike Babcock – but playing with people who are, the majority anyway, his size could help reduce penalties on its own. A few of his 90 PIM’s this past season were attributed to fighting majors, but he did find himself with a lot of minor penalties.

Brandon Carlo Scouting Report (John Williams – Central Scouting)

"He’s a really good skater and has great mobility for a player his size. The reach and range are there. He handles the puck well and is one of the best guys I’ve seen this year at being able to pass off the boards to a teammate."

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Carlo is projected to be a strong shut-down defender in the NHL with a ceiling of a #3D. Could Carlo, down the road, be a perfect partner for Morgan Rielly? It’s a possibilty – and it even provides the coveted left-right grouping.

Ultimately, I chose Carlo because he’s a big, right handed defender with a good hockey IQ that plays very well in his own end. That combination has been a tough find for the Toronto Maple Leafs lately and will deepen the prospect pool immediately.

Here’s a few videos of Brandon Carlo. The first is a scrap during a WHL game, the second a shift-by-shift video from the USA/SVK 2015 WJC game.

Next: Leafs 4th Overall Mock Selection

Previous FanSided 2015 NHL Mock Draft Selections (Click link for team breakdown)

23. Thomas Chabot (Vancouver Canucks)

22. Oliver Kylington (Washington Capitals)

21. Timo Meier (Buffalo Sabres)

20. Colin White (Minnesota Wild)

19. Ryan Pilon (Detroit Red Wings)

18. Kyle Connor (Ottawa Senators)

17. Nick Merkley (Winnipeg Jets)

16. Evgeni Svechnikov (Edmonton Oilers)

15. Jakub Zboril (Calgary Flames)

14. Travis Konecny (Boston Bruins)

13. Paul Bittner (Los Angeles Kings)

12. Jeremy Roy (Dallas Stars)

11. Ivan Provorov (Florida Panthers)

10. Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche)

9. Pavel Zacha (San Jose Sharks)

8. Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)

7. Lawson Crouse (Philadelphia Flyers)

6. Mathew Barzal (New Jersey Devils)

5. Noah Hanifin (Carolina Hurricanes)

4. Mitchell Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs)

3. Dylan Strome (Arizona Coyotes)

2. Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres)

1. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)

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