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Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking Back on the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

By Spencer Teixeira

TORONTO, ON - JULY 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defencemen Tom Nilsson, left, and Andrew MacWilliam during scrimmage action at the Leaf's 2013 prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre For Hockey Excellence. July 10, 2013. Chris So/Toronto Star (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defencemen Tom Nilsson, left, and Andrew MacWilliam during scrimmage action at the Leaf's 2013 prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre For Hockey Excellence. July 10, 2013. Chris So/Toronto Star (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 10 – Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defencemen Tom Nilsson, left, and Andrew MacWilliam during scrimmage action at the Leaf’s 2013 prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre For Hockey Excellence. July 10, 2013. Chris So/Toronto Star (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 10 – Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defencemen Tom Nilsson, left, and Andrew MacWilliam during scrimmage action at the Leaf’s 2013 prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre For Hockey Excellence. July 10, 2013. Chris So/Toronto Star (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs brass spent two busy days in the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota, selecting nine prospects.

Next up in my “Where Are They Now?” series is the 2011 draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs had a busy day, trading several picks and selecting 9 ‘future stars’.

Following a disappointing season, with the team finishing 37-34-11, the Maple Leafs turned to the draft in hopes of being competitive as soon as possible. The team entered the draft with two first round picks (#30 from Boston) and (#25 from Philadelphia), in a valiant attempt to make up for the loss of the #9 overall pick (to Boston in the Phil Kessel trade).

Toronto had acquired the #25 overall pick from the Flyers that February, along with a 2011 3rd round pick (#83), in exchange for forward Kris Versteeg.

At the draft the Leafs saw an attempt to move up in the draft to select a highly rated prospect, so Burke moved the #30 and #39 overall picks to the Anaheim Ducks for the #22 overall pick.

Just over 8 years, and a whole lot of disappointment later, we take a look at those prospects and where they went from that summer day in 2011.

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