3rd Round, 84th Overall – Mikko Kokkonen (D, Jukurit, SM-Liiga)
After taking a left winger with their first pick, the Leafs moved on to the back end in the third round and selected defenseman Mikko Kokkonen. The 5’11, 198lb left-handed d-man spent this season playing for Jukurit of the SM-Liiga and had a pretty successful season that saw him put up 19 points in 56 games. These are impressive totals when you consider his age and the competition of that league.
Kokkonen has been described by scouts as a very reliable player who doesn’t make too many noticeable mistakes in his own end. He’s also an effective powerplay quarterback with a quick wrist shot and effective passing ability.
The Maple Leafs already have a pretty stacked prospect pool on the back end with names such as Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren being the most notable, but what sets Kokkonen apart from the others is the sheer fact that he isn’t the flashiest of players, but plays an honest and simple game while not making too many mistakes.
He’s under contract with Jukurit for next season so it’s likely he will remain overseas for the first year of his development, but it’s also possible the Leafs give him a shot with the Marlies at some point so they can monitor him closely.