Toronto Maple Leafs 2011 NHL Draft Retrospective

Editor In Leaf continues our look into the Toronto Maple Leafs drafting skills with the 2011 NHL Draft.

We’re finally getting to the point where most of the Leafs picks are still in the organization, whether playing with the Marlies or the Leafs still owning their rights.

Of course, the Leafs still felt the ramifications of the Phil Kessel trade as they were without their original first-round pick. The Boston Bruins used that pick to select defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

Brian Burke made sure the Leafs had a first-round pick in the 2011 Draft. In fact, he acquired two, sending Tomas Kaberle to Boston for theirs (30th overall) and Kris Versteeg to the Philadelphia Flyers for theirs (25th overall). The Leafs would trade the pick they acquired from Boston to the Anaheim Ducks to move up to 22nd overall.

Let’s take a look at the Leafs picks.

[table id=91 /]

The Leafs moved up in the draft in part to draft Tyler Biggs. Hailed as a Milan Lucic-like player, he hasn’t exactly fulfilled that potential. Playing parts of the last three seasons with the Marlies, he has also spent time with the Orlando Solar Bears this season. He’s only 21 years old so maybe he can discover that offensive touch at the professional level in the next couple seasons.

Three picks later, the Leafs took defenseman Stuart Percy. Before this season, it looked like he would face a longer road to the NHL. However, a strong preseason performance helped him make the Leafs opening night roster. Unfortunately for him, injuries crept up and he has played most of the season with the Marlies. He managed to play nine games with the Leafs. He recorded three assists in those nine games.

Josh Leivo has played the most games out of any pick from the Leafs picks in 2011. Endlessly compared to Joffrey Lupul, Leivo still has not gotten his shot to stick with the Leafs. However, he might get a shot next season if the Leafs trade enough players in the off-season.

Tom Nilsson made his North American debut this season with the Marlies after playing in Sweden. Considered one of the Leafs top defensive prospects, Nilsson could also be a candidate to make the Leafs next season.

Tony Cameranesi is a long-term prospect. Playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the past three seasons. Minnesota-Duluth made it to the second round of the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, before being eliminated by Boston University.

David Broll made his Leafs debut last season as well as Leivo. However, Broll fell down the Leafs depth chart from there. Earlier this season, he was practically given to the Tampa Bay Lightning along with Carter Ashton.

Before leaving college, Dennis Robertson was traded along with John-Michael Liles to the Carolina Hurricanes for Tim Gleason last season. He is currently playing for the Hurricanes AHL farm club, the Charlotte Checkers.

Garret Sparks is fifth on the Leafs goaltending depth chart. With Antoine Bibeau and Christopher Gibson taking up with the playing time with the Marlies, Sparks has played most of this season with the Solar Bears. Sparks is 19-7-3 this season as Orlando is currently in a playoff position.

Max Everson has been in Harvard University for the past four seasons. Definitely another long-term prospect, Everson and Harvard were eliminated in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, losing to Omaha.

Next: 2010 NHL Draft Retrospective

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