The Washington Capitals’ elimination of the Pittsburgh Penguins confirmed that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be drafting at 25th overall in the upcoming 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
With a number of their highly touted prospect pool jumping to the NHL this season, the 2018 Draft will be pivotal to re-stock the shelves.
As such, I took a quick peek into the 25th overall selections from the previous 5 drafts. The results were relatively mixed, as teams took a wide variety of the talent available.
Now, it’s important to note that drafts are subjective. Each team employs their own system of prospect evaluation, and it would be unfair to lump the sins of GM’s past onto the current Leafs.
Still, it’s important to gauge precedent. Let’s take a look at the sort of talent available at 25th overall in years past.
2017 Draft: Ryan Poehling
Team: Montreal Canadiens
St. Cloud State sophomore Ryan Poehling is a distinctly rare prospect. How so?
Well, because he looks to be one of the few Montreal Canadiens first-round picks from the Marc Bergevin Era who may actually turn into something.
The Habs are desperate for a centre. Such a statement is common knowledge, considering they attempted to shoehorn Jonathan Drouin down the middle this season to hilariously disastrous results.
(Well, not if you ask hockey twitters embarrassing grandfather Grant McCagg).
In Poehling, they may actually possess a legitimate hope at their most lacking position. The initial scouting report lists him as a defensively responsible, albeit offensively limited pivot who’s proven adept at handling the toughest matchups.
At the time, many considered him a “safe pick”. Someone whose floor was a serviceable NHLer, with his ceiling only slightly above that. Lately, however, Poehling has been changing that perception.
In 36 games for NCAA Div 1’s top team, Poehling racked up 31 points. For an 18-year-old sophomore, so much as earning ice time in a program that successful is a challenge in of itself. Finishing top-five in team scoring is downright impressive.
The Leafs similarly lack organizational centre depth, albeit not to the same extent as Montreal. Still, knowing an asset like Poehling was available at 25th just one year ago is a comforting thought.
Verdict: Not terrible!
2016 Draft: Riley Tufte
Team: Dallas Stars
Hulking winger Riley Tufte is a difficult prospect to get a handle on.
Drafted by Dallas, Tufte represents another product of the NCAA. In 2017-18, Tufte capped his freshman campaign by capturing the NCAA title with the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Tufte finished the year with 16 goals, more than any of his teammates. He became significantly dangerous on the power play, using his booming shot from the outside to stun opposing goaltenders.
Although, for someone of his build, he rarely uses it to his advantage.
Work down low and in front of the net are areas in which he’s expressed an interest to improve upon. Tufte’s size and hands in tight could turn him into a James van Riemsdyk prototype, a lethal down low presence.
Yet, Tufte is exactly the type of prospect the Leafs should avoid.
Despite his size and initial collegiate success, Toronto already possesses a cavalcade of wingers, each with more of a dynamic presence. Rather than spending an asset with the prestige of a first rounder on an area of surplus, they may be best served to deal it instead.
Verdict: Fine…I guess?
2015 Draft: Jack Roslovic
Team: Winnipeg Jets
To their credit, the Jets have done a phenomenal job with their recent first-round picks. Each of Patrick Laine, Nikolai Ehlers and Kyle Connor are first rounders from the last three years, and all seem to be entrenched members of their future core.
Roslovic, while more raw than the aforementioned trio, may become one too.
He absolutely shredded the AHL, posting gaudy totals of 35 points in 32 games. As a centre, he projects as a budding talent at a premier position. Not too bad for a mid-20’s pick.
In 31 games at the NHL level, Roslovic made the most of his limited ice time. Despite rarely topping 10 minutes of ice time, he still scored at roughly a 0.5 points-per-game pace, with 14.
If a talent like Roslovic fell to the Leafs at 25th, I’d trip over myself trying to snatch him up.
Verdic: Puts the WIN in Winnipeg
2014 Draft: David Pastrnak
Team: Boston Bruins
Do I really need to get elaborate? We all know David Pastrnak is a legitimate superstar, right?
Good. Moving on!
Verdict: Hell Yeah™
2013 Draft: Michael McCarron
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Remember what I said about Poehling being a rare Montreal first-rounder with promise? Enter Michael McCarron.
Despite being draped with prestige befitting of a top prospect, McCarron has gone on to accomplish precisely zilch in the seasons following his draft.
In 69 games (nice) at the NHL level across 3 seasons, he’s mustered a mesely 8 points. As well, in his over-age year for OHL Oshawa, he produced at well under a point-per-game pace, something which should have sent alarm bells cascading throughout Bergevin’s office.
Spending most of 2017-18 in the AHL, McCarron was a nonfactor as well.
His most memorable moment actually came in the form of a story relayed to me by a Laval Rocket reporter. Said reporter told me that, during an end-of-season contest, Marlies forward Rich Clune tried to fight McCarron, an invitation McCarron declined because he was, quote, “golfing in Bermuda the next day and didn’t want to mess up his face.”
Now, I’m not one for questioning anyone’s toughness, as playing in the NHL is an incredible feat regardless of how many fights you have under your belt. Still, it made me chuckle.
A big, slow, offensively limited winger, McCarron is exactly the type of player who the Leafs should stay as far away from as possible when they reach the podium in June.
Verdict: Is there a French word for “bust”?
Next: The Unheralded Trevor Moore
Thanks for reading!