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Toronto Maple Leafs: 2019 NHL Draft Recap

By Alex Hobson

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: (l-r) Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs handle the draft table during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: (l-r) Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs handle the draft table during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 1: Mikhail Abramov prepares for testing during the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine on June 1, 2019 at Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 1: Mikhail Abramov prepares for testing during the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine on June 1, 2019 at Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4th Round, 115th Overall – Mikhail Abramov (C, Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)

Forward, defenseman, and now back to forward.

At 115th overall, the Maple Leafs selected Moscow native Mikhail Abramov. The Russian playmaker plays centre but can also play right wing, and just finished his first season playing overseas. In 62 games with the Victoriaville Tigres, he put up an impressive 54 points.

He turned heads before the season even started, putting up seven points in five games representing Finland at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and then made his CHL debut where he would finish third on the team in scoring as a rookie.

The main scoop on Abramov is the fact that he’s a talented playmaker and an above average skater, but needs to get stronger and work on his shot.

Like Robertson, Abramov is another undersized, skilled forward standing at 5’10 and 161lbs. Thanks to Auston Matthews and John Tavares, the Maple Leafs are more or less set up the middle for the next seven or so years, but it would be nice to see Abramov develop into a skilled middle six centre or even play the wing if it makes more sense based on the depth chart.

He will likely head back to the QMJHL for another season to work on the weaknesses of his game and hone his skills before he makes the pros.

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