Toronto Maple Leafs 2012 Draft: Where Are They Now?

The history of NHL Entry Drafts for the Toronto Maple Leafs is not very good, but 2012 was better than usual.

Brian Burke and Toronto Maple Leafs management would select six prospects in the 2012 NHL entry draft in Pittsburgh, hoping to build a future powerhouse.

The 2012 NHL draft featured Nail Yakupov as the first overall selection, Ryan Murray second and Alex Galchenyuk third.  The Leafs of course famously selected Morgan Rielly and claimed they’d have picked him first overall.

While Burke’s claim that he would have taken Morgan Rielly first seemed like hyperbole back then, it does seem reasonable today, thanks to the so-so careers of everyone picked ahead of him (Though when healthy Ryan Murray is pretty good).

Seven years later, we take a look at these selections and their journeys from prospect to pro, and where they are today.

This is the third post in my ‘Where Are They Now” draft series, so make sure to follow along!

You can catch up on my 2010 and 2011 ‘Where Are They Now’ posts below

• 2011
• 2010

Round 1 Pick 5 – D Morgan Rielly

With the 5th overall pick of the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected defenseman Morgan Rielly from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Initially, this was seen as a very risky pick, as Rielly only managed to play 18 games in his draft year. Since this pick, as Brian Burke loves to point out, Rielly is probably the best player to come out of the 2012 draft.

The British Columbia native would spend his Draft+1 year with Moose Jaw, scoring a fantastic 54 points in 60 games. His production can largely be credited to Rielly’s ideal skillset, as described by the Sports Forecaster team,

“[He has] tremendous [skating] and possesses excellent instincts for the game. At times, he can act as a fourth forward on the ice. [He also] knows how to run a power play effectively. [Rielly can log big minutes]. [Needs to continue] getting stronger physically and prove capable of shutting down [big talents consistently].”

The two-way dynamo made his NHL debut in 2013-14 season, scoring 27 points in 73 games. Rielly would cement his role in the NHL that season, hitting the ground running and never turning back, scoring 216 points in 397 games since then (0.54 PTS/GP). This excellent run would see Rielly hit a career high 20 goals and 72 points in 2018-19.

Rielly is also a key leader on the Leafs, sporting the ‘A’ for the past three seasons.

It’s safe to say that Rielly was the right pick here.

Round 2 Pick 35 – D Matt Finn

With the 35th overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected defender Matthew Finn from the Guelph Storm of the OHL.

Finn was a highly-touted prospect, scoring 48 points in 61 games in the OHL his draft year. Finn’s success and value were summed up well in this Elite Prospects bio from 2012.

“[Finn is a] very smart two-way defenseman with leadership qualities. Plays with great authority. Very smart in his own end and valuable offensively with a good passing game and a hard shot.”

Following a successful junior career (161 PTS in 228 GP) in Guelph alongside fellow Leafs prospect Garret Sparks, Finn would join the Leafs’ AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies in 2014-15.

Finn would score just three points in 28 games with the Marlies before being sent to the ECHL, where he’d continue to struggle, posting two points in eight games.

Prior to the start of the 2015-16 season, Finn was traded, along with five other Leafs prospects, to the New York Islanders for winger Michael Grabner.

Since the trade, Finn would play 51 games in the AHL, scoring just 19 points. The Toronto native would be far more successful at the ECHL level, scoring 75 points in 108 games.

Finn, now 25, is set to play out the 2019-20 season with EHC Linz of the EBEL.

Round 5 Pick 126 – C Dominic Toninato

With the 126th pick of the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected centreman Dominic Toninato from Minnesota Duluth East highschool.

following his selection, Toninato would commit to University of Minnesota Duluth, where he would blossom as a player over four seasons. Sports Forecaster describes Toninato as the following,

“A two-way centre with a solid frame (6’2″), [Toninato] is a solid [centreman] who can be used in pressure situations to win face-offs in the defensive zone, kill penalties and be on ice late in hockey games. Will always have trouble producing consistent offense at the highest level. [Also lacks] ideal playmaking skills from the [centre] position. Must get stronger on the puck to succeed in the pro game.”

The aforementioned consistency issues would plague the Duluth native throughout his career. Over his 151 game NCAA career, the two-way centre would score 91 points, which is solid, but included a low 15 points (2013-14) and a high 29 points (2016-17).

Toninato spent the past two seasons in the Colorado Avalanche organization, whom signed him to an ELC in 2017 after going unsigned by the Leafs.

The defensive centre would appear in 39 games with the Avalanche, scoring a measly three points. Toninato would also score 41 points in 88 AHL games with the Colorado Eagles.

Just before the start of free agency, Toninato’s RFA rights was traded to the Florida Panthers for star AHL defenseman Jacob MacDonald. Shortly after, Toninato was signed to a one-year, two-way contract by the Panthers.

Currently 25, I expect Toninato to make the Panthers next year and be a rotation player.

Round 6 Pick 156 – RW Connor Brown

With the 156th overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected winger Connor Brown from the Erie Otters.

Brown was a an excellent OHL player, scoring 250 points in 199 games with the Erie Otters. His success can be attributed to his fast, hard-nosed play style as described by the Sports Forecaster team,

“…[Brown has] proven capable of putting up very good numbers at lower levels, thanks to good offensive instincts. [He is] also plenty resilient and somewhat tenacious in his approach.”

Brown would burst onto the scene as a stand-out AHL rookie, scoring 61 points in 71 games with the Marlies in 2014-15.

The next season, Brown would continue scoring well at the AHL, recording 29 points in 34 games. His production would award him with a seven stint with the last-place Leafs, in which he scored six points.

Brown would make the Leafs full-time in the 2016-17 season, scoring a real good 20 goals and 36 points in 82 games.

The past two seasons have been a bit of a disappointment however, as Brown would record just 57 points in 164 games.

On July 1st 2019, Brown was traded to the Ottawa Senators in a massive six-player deal.

I was personally a big fan of Connor Brown, and wish him the best of luck in Ottawa. I’m sure that he’ll complete a dangerously annoying line with Anthony Duclair and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

Round 6 Pick 157 – F Ryan Rupert

With the 157th overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected forward Ryan Rupert from the London Knights.

Like the majority of modern-era London Knights, Rupert was very productive, scoring 194 points in 224 games.

The London (Ontario) native would join the Marlies in 2014, scoring 27 points in 57 games, and added 14 points in 17 ECHL games.

Rupert would disappoint slightly to start the 2015-16 season, scoring 12 points in 29 games. In February 2016, Rupert would be traded to the Ottawa Senators in a large nine-player deal.

Since the trade, Rupert would appear in 63 AHL games (19 points), 164 ECHL games (134 points), and 4 games in the British EIHL (no points).

Rupert currently sits a free agent at 25 years old.