Evaluating Every Player the Toronto Maple Leafs Drafted

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 23: Sean Durzi greets his team after being selected 52nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2nd Round, 52nd Overall – Sean Durzi (D, Owen Sound Attack, OHL)

I’ll be honest. Leading up to this pick, I thought for sure the Leafs were going to take Akil Thomas.

The undersized centre was a projected first round pick who was slipping very quickly, but he ended up getting selected by the Los Angeles Kings one pick before the Leafs were on the clock.

Before the Leafs picked, I was disappointed that they didn’t land Thomas. But the selection of Durzi quickly wiped that disappointment away.

Born in Toronto, Durzi grew up a Leafs fan, cheering for them his whole life. As a right handed two-way defenseman, he fits the bill of one of the Leafs’ top needs. He just finished up a very successful campaign for the Attack, putting up 49 points in 40 games as a 19 year old. Regardless of his age, averaging over a point-per-game as a defenseman is always a good sign. He turns 20 in October, making him potentially eligible to join the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. If Leafs’ brass don’t think he’s ready, he’s also eligible to return to the OHL for one final season.

He’s been compared to Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom a number of times, and while Enstrom isn’t anything incredible, a player of his skill would make him a successful second round pick.

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