Toronto Maple Leafs: 1st Rounders Through the Years vol. 4
2011 draft, Tyler Biggs, and Stuart Percy
In 2011, the Leafs missed the playoffs once again. At the same time, the 2011 draft began in a similar fashion to 2010. Though the Leafs improved by 11 points, missing the post-season was only half of the bitter pill. The Bruins used the second first-rounder acquired in the Kessel deal to select Dougie Hamilton, a 6′ 5 200 lbs., Toronto-born defender.
"Immense, mobile defenseman who excels in all three zones. Born of Olympic blood lines, Dougie Hamilton’s athleticism shows in his skating, where he has the speed to recover and catch players if he gets beat on a pinch, the mobility to turn and retrieve dump-ins before opposing forecheckers, and the shiftiness to carry the puck and beat defenders one-on-one. As of this writing, Hamilton is 6’5” but he’s grown an inch and a half over the course of the season so he may, in fact, top out in the 6’6” range. www.hockeysfuture.com"
The 2011 draft was a perfect example of Burke’s horrendous asset management. The Leafs traded a first round pick 30th overall, the bounty from the Kaberle to Boston deal plus their second round pick, 39th overall to the Anaheim Ducks for the 22nd pick. No doubt Burke wanted another truculent youngster and since missing the first Tyler, he selected another. Tyler Biggs, from the USHL Development program.
Biggs was a bust. He never came close to playing in the NHL. At best, Biggs is a borderline AHL and ECHL talent who now plays for the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings. Left on the table between picks 22 and 25? Matt Puempel and Joe Morrow.
The Leafs second first round pick in 2011, number 25, acquired in the Kris Versteeg to the Flyers deal. Burke used this pick to select Stuart Percy.
"Percy possesses all-round ability, and is very calm under pressure situations. He moves the puck efficiently out of the defensive zone and is starting to become a threat offensively – although he is unlikely to develop into a première offensive defender. He is still developing his power and skating skills. www.hockeysfuture"
At the time of his choice, Percy was considered an above average prospect. While he showed early promise as a rookie, injuries derailed his career.
Who was Left on the board between picks 25 and 30 where the Ducks selected Rickard Rakell with the Leafs via the Bruins pick? Phillip Danault and Vladislav Namestnikov.
At this point, the Leafs could have built a prospect pool of Seguin, Hamilton, and Rakell. Meanwhile, due to asset mismanagement and poor scouting, they drafted Ross, Biggs, and Percy to add to 2009 pick Nazem Kadri.