Toronto Maple Leafs: Defensive Options At #31 Overall

Unless one of the few defenders consistently ranked in the first round of the NHL Draft falls to them at the Penguins pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs likely won’t see a defender until the second round.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, because last year the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to get Travis Dermott at #34.

This year they’ll be looking to add another defender at #31 if they don’t find themselves lucky enough to have Dante Fabbro or Charles McAvoy fall to them where the Penguins finally land. Even Logan Stanley projects to go before the Penguins pick lands – unless Washington makes a miraculous comeback in the next three games of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Who they pick may depend on whether they go for best player available, or handedness. The Toronto Maple Leafs need right-shot defenders. The ideal pairing in the NHL is a left and right shot – unless you have two great puck moving defenders paired together.

Of the four players I’ve chosen as #31 overall options only one of them is a right-shot defender – but I wouldn’t necessarily classify him as the best one available if all four are around.

Here are the four players. Click through the slideshow to find out more about each defender on the list.

1. Libor Hajek (CZE)
2. Filip Hronek (CZE)
3. Jacob Moverare (SWE)
4. Kyle Clague (CAN)

Next: Libor Hajek

Filip Hronek

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DOB: November 2nd, 1997 (18 years old)

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 163 lbs

Shoots: Right

Hronek suited up in the Czech League with HK Hradec Kralove for 40 games, registering four assists over that span. He also spent 13 games in the Czech U20 league where he recorded 16 points.

He had two points in five games while representing the Czech Repulic at the World Junior Championships.

Hronek is ranked #8 among European Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, moving up two spots from the mid-term rankings.

Next: Jacob Moverare

Jacob Moverare

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DOB: August 21st, 1998 (17 years old)

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 198 lbs

Shoots: Left

Moverare spent most of his time with HV71 J20 in the Swedish Superelit League, racking up five goals and 16 assists in 41 games. He played four games for HV71 in the SHL during the 2015-2016 season and didn’t register a point.

Moverare also represented Sweden at the U18 World Championships where he had five points in seven games for his home country.

He’s ranked in the #29 spot by ISS Hockey and #12 among European Skaters by NHL Central Scouting. His central scouting ranking fell from #9 at the mid-term rankings, but rose over the season with the ISS staff.

Next: Kyle Clague -

Kyle Clague

“An offensive defenseman in nature, Clague is a tantalizing blend of speed, cunning, and craftiness. Very smooth skater that is mobile at a professional level. Great vision and is able to control plays with the puck on his stick. Creative passer. Will need to work on his shot and consistency moving forward, but has the undeniable raw skills and fundamental attributes of a puck-moving offensive defenseman. All-in-all, a highly skilled defenseman that has the potential to be a proficient producer from the back end.” (Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects)

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31

Kyle Clague

LD, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Here’s what EliteProspects.com had to say about Clague:

“An offensive defenseman in nature, Clague is a tantalizing blend of speed, cunning, and craftiness. Very smooth skater that is mobile at a professional level. Great vision and is able to control plays with the puck on his stick. Creative passer. Will need to work on his shot and consistency moving forward, but has the undeniable raw skills and fundamental attributes of a puck-moving offensive defenseman. All-in-all, a highly skilled defenseman that has the potential to be a proficient producer from the back end.” (Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects)

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• Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
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• Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
• Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament

DOB: June 5th, 1998 (17 years old)

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 179 lbs

Shoots: Left

Clague recorded 43 points in 71 games for Brandon this season from the back end and has 14 points in 16 games during this year’s WHL Playoffs – where he’s currently set to start the WHL Finals.

Of his 43 regular season points, Clague had 53.5% at even strength. Thirteen of his twenty-three 5v5 points came as primary points.

He played in the CHL-RUSSIA Super Series for the WHL this year and for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka where he recorded one point in four games.

Next: Sustaining The Leafs Future

Clague is ranked 30th by McKeen’s Hockey and 27th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, with his central scouting ranking dropping from 22nd at the mid-term to where it is now at 27.