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Toronto Maple Leafs: Re-Drafting the 2012 NHL Entry Draft

By James Tanner

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on February 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on February 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs – Frederik Andersen (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

2012 NHL Draft Re-Draft

#3. Montreal Canadiens

Actual: Alex Galchenyuk

Re-Draft: Teuvo Terravainen

Oh to have this pick back.  The Canadiens had so many options that could have set their team on the path to contention, but they opted for Galchenyuk.

Galchenyuk actually had a strong start to his career, and looked for a while like he’d be a star.  Then he fell out of favor and was traded to for Max Domi.  That trade looks great for Montreal in retrospect, as Galchenyuk has fought injury after injury, been traded twice more, and is barely hanging onto an NHL job at this point.

The next best player in this draft is also a goalie, but in 2012, with Price in his prime, that wouldn’t make sense for the Habs, so they take the best position player of the 2012 draft – Teuvo Terravainen.

With 76 points last season, and well on his way to matching it before this season was paused, Terravainen is an elite point producer who also happens to be among the NHL’s best defensive players.

Few players have an all-round game as good as Terravainen, and he’s one of the NHL’s most underrated players.  If he were on Montreal (or most teams) he’d be their best player.

#4  The Islanders

Actual: Griffin Reinhart

Re-Draft: Freddie Andersen

The Islanders blew this pick, but were lucky enough to dupe the Oilers for a couple picks before Reinhart flamed out.

Speaking of what could have been, the Islanders used the Oilers’ pick to select Mathew Barzel.  Imagine him out there with Draistaitl, Hall, RNH, McDavid and Vasilevkiy.

Oh well. Reinhart didn’t work out, and if the draft was done over, the Islanders would have Freddie Andersen, which is a coincidence because the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie was signed by Islanders current GM Lou Lamoriello.

In real life, Andersen didn’t get picked until the Ducks took him 87th overall, in the late third round.

Goalie!  You never know.  Andersen, it goes without saying, has turned into a franchise goalie, even if he had a rough year this season.

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