Toronto Maple Leafs: 2017 Mock Draft – Picks 1-15

Unlike past years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have questions circling around them headed into the 2017 NHL Draft.

Last year, it was almost a given that the Toronto Maple Leafs, who owned the first overall pick, would take Auston Matthews. The year before, it was generally believed they would take Mitch Marner.

But after an exciting 2016-17 campaign that saw the Buds make the playoffs, the Leafs own the 17th overall pick. This leads to many more questions surrounding who they take. Luckily for them, there are lots and lots of options surrounding who to take at 17. However, the Leafs won’t be mentioned too much here, as we’ll be going over picks 1-15.

The mock draft begins with an unlikely top three of New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Dallas.

1. New Jersey Devils – Nico Hischier (C, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)

In 2015, it was generally believed Connor McDavid would go first overall over Jack Eichel. In 2016, it was generally believed that Auston Matthews would go first overall over Patrik Laine. This year, however, there’s a bit of a toss-up.

It was long presumed that fellow centre Nolan Patrick would go first overall in 2017 for a while. However, due to injuries and a bit of a setback in production, people are beginning to rank Hischier at #1. The Naters, Switzerland native posted an impressive 86 points in 57 games for Halifax last season and would become the first-ever Swiss-born first overall pick.

3. Dallas Stars – Gabriel Vilardi (C, Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

While the Stars are usually cup contenders, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory this season. They’re slotted to pick third after a big jump in the lottery.

The Stars have some quality talent on the back end in Esa Lindell and Julius Honka, so they go with the big centre in Vilardi.

Vilardi had a strong regular season and stepped up big time in the Memorial Cup, posting seven points through four games and will fit right into the Stars strong forward core.

4. Colorado Avalanche – Miro Heiskanen (D, HIFK, Sm-Liiga)

Heiskanen is arguably the best defenseman in the 2017 NHL Draft, showing skill in the offensive zone and smarts in the defensive zone.

With Tyson Jost and Mikko Rantanen likely to be top six forwards for the Avs, they take a defenseman after slipping from first to fourth overall. Heiskanen could turn out to be a top pairing defenseman with the right development and he addresses a great need for the Avalanche.

5. Vancouver Canucks – Casey Mittelstadt (C, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL)

Nicknamed “Mr.Hockey” in his home state of Minnesota, Mittelstadt was simply an unfair opponent for any high schooler. He put up 64 points in 25 games for Eden Prairie High and he also managed 30 points through 24 games in the USHL.

Mittelstadt is an electric forward who makes everyone around him better, and he’ll fit in perfectly into the next generation of Nucks’ forwards along with Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat.

6. Vegas Golden Knights – Cody Glass (C, Portland Winterhawks, WHL)

A brand new franchise means that this team doesn’t have a particular need to address at the draft. If the prediction is right, the Knights will go with Glass, who’s already looking like a future stable top six centre at the NHL level.

Amassing 94 points through 65 games this year, Glass was the top line centre for the Hawks at the age of 17 and the Knights will be getting a future solid two way forward if they take him.

7. Arizona Coyotes – Cale Makar (D, Brooks Bandits, AJHL)

While Makar may not have been getting quite as much coverage playing in the AJHL, he still looks like a safe bet.

The Calgary native put up 75 points through 54 games for the Bandits this year, and he’s committed to the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) for next season. He’ll continue his development there into a quality two way d-man. Arizona gets a top quality back end prospect in Makar.

8. Buffalo Sabres – Owen Tippett (RW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL)

With the Sabres solidifying their defensive core with Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe among others, they add an electrifying winger in Owen Tippett to play alongside of Jack Eichel.

Tippett scored 44 goals and put up 75 points through 60 games in the OHL this season, and scouts say he already has an NHL shot. He’ll likely spend one more season in the OHL before making the jump to the NHL.

9. Detroit Red Wings – Martin Necas (C, HC Kometa Brno, Czech1)

After taking defenseman Dennis Cholowski in the first round last season, the Red Wings go the forward route this year and take Martin Necas. He’s a talented forward playing against men in the top Czech league.

The 18 year old played alongside of former NHLers Tomas Vincour and Martin Erat this season, and he’ll join a talented group of European prospects in the Wings system. Axel Holmstrom and Evgeni Svechnikov are on this list.

10. Florida Panthers – Timothy Liljegren (D, Rogle BK, SHL)

What a year it’s been for Timothy Liljegren. After being projected as the second overall pick behind Nolan Patrick, he saw his stock drop.

Nevertheless, whoever lands Liljegren will be getting a top end defensive prospect. If the Panthers end up selecting him at 10th, he’ll be joining a solid prospect pool and could end up being a rock on their back end.

11. Los Angeles Kings – Michael Rasmussen (C, Tri-City Americans, WHL)

Rasmussen is who I consider to be the Logan Brown of this year‘s draft. He’s a massive centre who plays the body and he looks like somebody who could slot in perfectly as a second line centre.

The Kings are a team who play a defensive, physical game. In this case, they add someone who looks like he could be a bonafide second line centre behind Anze Kopitar.

12. Carolina Hurricanes – Elias Pettersson (C/LW, Timra IK, Allsvenskan)

Scoring at almost a point per game pace in Sweden’s junior league, Pettersson is looking like a sure thing as we draw closer to the 2017 draft.

Scouts have pegged him as an agile and crafty two way forward who can also provide lots of offense. He doesn’t really have a weakness in his game and if the Hurricanes select him at 12, he’ll join Sebastian Aho as another flashy forward prospect.

13. Winnipeg Jets – Eeli Tolvanen (LW, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL)

Taking a Finn worked out for the Jets last year, so why not do it again, right?

In all seriousness, if Tolvanen is around at 13th, the Jets would be smart to take him. The Vihti, Finland native is an electric forward who has a huge shot. He’s a powerplay specialist and shows flashes of Alex Ovechkin in the way he sets up at the top of the circle. He would easily slot in as a first or second line left winger with Nikolaj Ehlers.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning – Klim Kostin (C/RW, Dynamo Moskva, KHL)

Kostin is a very good skater for his size and despite missing the majority of the 2016-17 season, he looks like he could step in and be a top end winger for the Lightning.

The only issue surrounding Kostin is the fact that he refused to report to the WHL’s Kootenay Ice after being their first overall pick in the import draft. This raises concerns that he might prefer to stay in his native Russia rather than play in North America. However, his skillset is worth the risk.

15. New York Islanders – Lias Andersson (LW, HV71, SHL)

Andersson spent this season playing against men in the SHL and he’s looking like a very solid prospect. If the Islanders see him on the board at 15th, they shouldn’t hesitate to take him.

Andersson is an incredible skater and though he’s committed to Frolunda HC for next season, if the Islanders like what they see, it’s possible that he could move to North America in order for the organization to be able to keep a close eye on him.

**All statistics and scouting report information obtained from eliteprospects.com**