Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Preview: 3 Defensemen to Select

With the trio of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander leading the way offensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to shore up their defensive core this month at the NHL Draft.

In a draft class where there is little consensus regarding draft order, the Toronto Maple Leafs are primed to have a quality group of prospects to choose from when they take the podium with the 17th overall selection on the 23rd of June.

Here is a breakdown of three defensemen you might see wearing the Blue and White in the not too distant future.

Callan Foote: RHD, 6-foot-4, 215 lbs, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

#12 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
#17 by Hockeyprospect.com
#30 by McKeen’s Hockey

The son of former All-Star and gold medalist Adam Foote, Callan Foote’s bloodline has had the Kelowna Rockets defensemen under the microscope’s of NHL scouts since he was 14-years old.

Standing 6-foot-4, Cal has inherited all of his father’s imposing frame, however, does not share the aggressive physical style that made his Dad a household name over the course of his 19-year NHL career.

Despite their differences, Callan does not hesitate when it comes to using his NHL-ready body to overpower his opposition and is considered by some to be one of the best man-on-man defenders in the 2017 draft.

Foote compliments his pass-first defensive game with an accurate/heavy shot from the point and above average puck skills and coordination for a player of his size.

Despite questions surrounding Foote’s skating ability, his offensive acumen made up for his less than stellar first step last year with the Rockets, where the 18-year-old recorded 57 points in 71 games and was relied upon to quarterback Kelowna’s top power-play unit.

Big defensemen with skill are hard to come by and Foote’s rare mixture of the two makes him a very attractive option for the Leafs if he falls to them at #17. Especially when you take into consideration his right-handed shot and the fact that the current management group went big in last years draft, with their drafted players collective heights averaging north of 6’1″.

Timothy Liljegren: RHD, 6-foot-0, 192 lbs, Rogle (SHL)

Considered by most to be a top 3 pick at the start of the season, Liljegren’s stock slipped throughout his draft year largely due to the defensemen being sidelined for an extended period with mononucleosis.

When healthy, Liljegren is one of the most offensively gifted and dynamic players available in this years draft, with his style of play embodying everything that is coveted most in today’s NHL.

Here’s what FutureConsiderations had to say about Liljegren:

"An active, offensive-minded rearguard who likes the puck on his stick. skates with strong fluidity and agility, getting from one point to the next effortlessly as his feet always seem to be in motion. Can take the puck end-to-end a la Erik Karlsson. His offensive IQ is off the charts as is his creativity. Makes strong breakout passes to move along the attack to his forwards before jumping into the play himself"

Liljegren’s creativity with the puck does not come without consequences, however, as the 18-year-old’s electric style of play resulted in far too many turnovers this season, born out of situations where Liljegren tried to do too much with the puck in the neutral and offensive zones.

Despite his high risk, high-reward style, the Swede’s sky-high potential makes it highly unlikely that he drops to the Leafs at 17. The possibility remains that Toronto, armed with a full prospect pool and seven total draft picks, could move up and grab Liljegren if he were to fall out of the top 10.

Nicolas Hague: LHD, 6-foot-6, 215 lbs, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

#18 by Hockeyprospect.com
#20 by NHL Central Scouting (NA skaters)
#27 by McKeen’s Hockey

Possessing above average skating and puck moving skills, Nicolas Hague is not your conventional 6-foot-6 defensemen.

Armed with a scorching slap shot and quick windup that offers defenders little opportunity to react before the puck finds its way to the net, Hague has plenty of offensive weapons to compliment his imposing size.

On the defensive side of the puck, the 18-year-old is no stranger to using his big frame to his advantage, frequently forcing opponents to the perimeter of the ice and overpowering them in one-on-one puck battles.

Here’s what FutureConsiderations had to say about Hague:

"Hague has a great mix of size, skating and skill. Shuts down the oppositions’ top lines and is a driver of the play. Is physical and will give that extra shot to his opponent to leave a mark and an impression for the next time. Doesn’t give his man room to breathe in front of the net. Not shy with stepping in to lay the body, standing up his man with a solid check"

Playing in Toronto’s backyard, Hague had a solid 2016-17 campaign with the Steelheads, registering 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points and 107 PIM in 65 games.

More from Editor In Leaf

Lou Lamorillo, Mark Hunter, and Maple Leafs scouts were on hand at at least one Steelheads playoff game this post-season, so you know the towering d-man has at least spiked Toronto’s attention.

No matter who the Toronto Maple Leafs pick, at the very least, speculation is fun.

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