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

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.

Round 1 Pick 22 – F Tyler Biggs

With the 22nd overall selection in the 2011 NHL draft, acquired earlier that day from the Anaheim Ducks, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Tyler Biggs out of the US Development Program.

Biggs, much like many other highly-touted prospects, was a decent scorer prior to the draft. The New York native scored 19 goals and 31 points in 55 USDP games, along with a 20 game-11 point stint in the USHL, in his draft year.

Although his scoring was decent, it was clear that his production was not a focus of the Brian Burke run Maple Leafs. Biggs stands at 6’2″ and 205 lbs, which means he brings all the ‘truculence’ 

Biggs’ first year in the Leafs organization saw him attend Miami University of Ohio, where he scored a rather disappointing (hmm…possible trend?) 17 points in 37 games. 

The next season, Biggs joined the Oshawa Generals of the OHL at age 19. Biggs, like many older player, exploded in the OHL. The American forward scored 53 points in 60 games. To close out the 2012-13 season, Biggs played 4 games with the Toronto Marlies, and scored a single goal.

Over the next two seasons, Biggs would play 104 AHL games, scoring an astonishingly…bad 14 points (0.07 P/GP). Biggs would also appear in 8 ECHL games in 2014-15, scoring 6 points.

Then, after 4 years of mediocrity & disappointment, a 22 year-old Tyler Biggs was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2015 for a lucrative package that involved Kasperi Kapanen.

Since that deal, Biggs has appeared in 11 AHL games (2 points), 128 ECHL games (80 points), and 24 games in the EIHL (9 points).

Now 26, Biggs sits unsigned. With no place to play for the upcoming 2019-20 season, Biggs may look to a career outside of hockey as he likely transitions into a new period of his life.

Round 3 Pick 83 – F Josh Leivo

With the 83rd overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected winger Josh Leivo from the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.

Although Leafs fans know Leivo well, it is good to get a refresher sometimes. This quote, from hockeysfuture, gives insight into Leivo’s playstyle and tendencies.

“Leivo is a naturally gifted athlete who can play a variety of roles which makes him a [versatile] player. [Leivo’s] size allows him to work very well down low and he protects the puck effectively. A right-handed shot who is comfortable [on both wings], Leivo maintains a strong presence in front of [the net], protects the puck down low, and possesses [strong goal-scoring instincts].”

After a strong junior career, 176 points in 193 games with the Sudbury Wolves, Leivo joined the Toronto Marlies full time in 2013.

The Ontario native, and life-long Leaf fan, scored a fantastic 42 points in 59 AHL games with the Marlies. Leivo’s strong production earned him a 7-game stint with the Leafs, in which he scored 2 points.

Over the next 4 seasons, Leivo would bounce between the American-and National Hockey Leagues, scoring 80 points in 107 AHL games and 20 points in 50 NHL games.

This past season Leivo, 25, would consistently play for the Maple Leafs for the first time in his career, scoring 6 points in 27 games. Leivo would soon see his time in Toronto end, as the sharp-shooting winger would be traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Michael Carcone last December.

In 49 games with the Canucks to close out the 2018-19 season, Leivo would score 18 points, 10 of which were goals.

Leivo, now 26, is set to start next season with the Canucks.

Round 4 Pick 100 – D Tom Nilsson

With the 100th overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected defenseman Tom Nilsson out of Sweden.

The following quote, a 2014 Erik K. Piri Elite Prospects snip-it, gives an idea of what the Leafs were getting in Nilsson.

“Nilsson is a hard-nosed, defensive-minded defenseman. He doesn’t have a huge body, but will still play a very physical game and loves to hit, especially in open ice. He also skates very well, but could improve his offensive game.”

Nilsson split his draft year with Mora IK’s under-18 (11 games, 8 points) & under-20 programs (37 games, 8 points), and even appeared in some games in the Allsvenskan (3 games, 0 points).

Over the next three seasons, Nilsson would bounce between Mora IK’s SuperElit (2 points, 13 games) and Allsvenskan (14 points, 86 games) teams and even ventured into the SHL with Frolunda HC (4 points, 50 games).

Then, a 21 year-old Nilsson would join the Toronto Marlies for the 2014-15 season. The Swedish defender would appear in 44 games, scoring 6 points.

The next season, Nilsson would return to Frolunda HC, scoring 7 points in 37 games.

Nilsson would return to North American once again in 2016-17, this time playing with the Utica Comets of the AHL. Nilsson would tally just 3 assists in 17 games.

Nilsson would spend the next two seasons with Djurgardens IF of the SHL, scoring 14 points in 66 appearances.

Nilsson, now 26, is set to start next season with Djurgardens.

Round 5 Pick 130 – C Tony Cameranesi

With the 130th overall pick of the 2011 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected centre Tony Cameranesi out of Wayzata High school.

Cameranesi began his pro career with the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL in 2011-12, scoring 42 points in 55 games.

The next 4 seasons would see Cameranesi join the University of Minnesota-Duluth, scoring 124 points in 152 games. In 2015-16, following the conclusion of the NCAA season, the Minneapolis native would join the Marlies for 6 games, scoring 2 goals.

Cameranesi would split the 2016-17 season between the Marlies (7 points in 31 games) and Orlando Solar Bears (28 points in 43 games) of the ECHL.

He would then split the last 2 seasons between the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL, 72 points in 76 games) and the Utica Comets (AHL, 12 points in 53 games).

Cameranesi, 26, is set to start the 2019-20 season with Storhamar of Norway.

Round 6 Pick 152 – F David Broll

With the 152nd overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected F Dave Broll from the Erie Otters of the OHL.

Broll was a decent player in junior throughout his 4-year OHL career, scoring 139 points in 255 games. That being said, his production had very little value to the Leafs, as the ‘truculent’ winger would post 285 penalty minutes.

The ‘Brolldozer‘ would join the Marlies for a 7 game stint to close out his 2012-13 season, he would score no points but would record 15 penalty minutes.

Broll’s ‘tenacity’ would earn him a 5 game stint with the Leafs the next year, record a single assist and 1 fight. Broll would also score 16 points in 63 AHL games.

Broll would spend the next 4 seasons bouncing around the AHL, with stints in the ECHL. Broll would score 23 points in 200 AHL games from 2014-18 and 9 points in 16 games. 

The Brolldozer would split last season with the Providence Bruins (AHL, 0 points in 1 game) and the Jacksonville IceMen (ECHL, 13 points in 29 games).

Broll, 26, is expected to start the 2019-20 season with the Coventry Blaze of the EIHL.

Round 6 Pick 173 – D Dennis Robertson

With the 173rd overall pick of the 2011 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected defenseman Dennis Robertson out of Brown University of the NCAA.

Robertson, an overager, would spend 4 seasons with Brown University, scoring 70 points in 128 games.

Robertson’s signing rights were moved halfway through his final season in the NCAA. On January 1st 2014, the British Columbia native was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, alongside John-Michael Liles, in exchange for Tim Gleason.

Robertson would spend parts of the following 5 seasons with the Charlotte Checkers, with an odd half-season with Rockford, scoring 61 points in 276 AHL games.

This past season, Robertson won the Calder Cup (AHL championship) with the Checkers.

Robertson is expected to play the 2019-20 season with HC Bolzano of the EBEL.

Round 7 Pick 190 – G Garret Sparks

With the 190th overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected goaltender Garret Sparks from the Guelph Storm of the OHL.

Sparks would play three seasons with the Storm, posting a .905 save percentage in 138 appearances.

Sparks would make pro debut with the Marlies at the end of the 2012-13 season, and would split the three seasons between the Marlies (AHL, .926 in 47 games) and Solar Bears (ECHL, .938 in 47 games). Sparks would get an extended look in the NHL during the 2015-16 season, posting a .893 SV% in 17 games.

Sparks would then transition to a dominant full-time AHL goaltender, posting a great .922 SV% in 31 games in 2016-17 and a league-best .936 SV% in 43 games in 2017-18.

Sparks would also play a huge role in the Marlies’ 2018 Championship run.

This past season, Sparks would win the back-up job, and would play 20 games with the Leafs, posting a rather underwhelming .902 SV%.

This summer, Sparks was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in an odd move that saw David Clarkson coming back the other way.

Round 7 Pick 203 – D Max Everson

with the 203rd overall selection of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked defenseman out of Edina High school.

Everson would play 4 seasons at Havard University, with a stint in the USHL. The Minneapolis native would score a mere 17 points in 101 NCAA games, and would add 5 points in 16 USHL games.

In 2015-16, Everson, going unsigned by the Leafs, would join the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL on a 2-way AHL contract. Everson would play extremely well in the ECHL, scoring 30 points in 68 games.

Everson would join HC Bolzano (EBEL) for the 2016-17 season, scoring 13 points in 53 games.

Following his venture into the EBEL, Everson hung up the skates at 24 years old.

Now 26, Everson remains retired from professional hockey. Everson has spent his time volunteering for the Children of Promise organization in New York City.

Overall, it wasn’t exactly the Toronto Maple Leafs beset performance at the draft table.