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Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Misses: 2010s Edition

By Stephen Nixon

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Winnepegs Jets second overall pick Patrik Laine, Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Auston Matthews and Columbus Blue Jackets third overall pick Pierre-Luc Dubois celebrate during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Winnepegs Jets second overall pick Patrik Laine, Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Auston Matthews and Columbus Blue Jackets third overall pick Pierre-Luc Dubois celebrate during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO,ON – FEBRUARY 21: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON – FEBRUARY 21: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

#10. Rickard Rakell (2011 NHL Entry Draft, 1st Round, 30th Overall)

Toronto’s Actual Pick: 1st Round, 25th Overall (Stuart Percy)

For current Toronto Maple Leafs fans, there is probably no draft more hated than the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

With the 22nd and 25th overall selection, the Leafs were ready to draft two great prospects that would help turn the franchise around.

Instead, the scouting department did an awful job. They selected Tyler Biggs (bust) with the 22nd overall pick, then Stuart Percy (lifetime AHLer) with the 25th overall pick.

The team had the draft in the palm of their hands and folded.

Instead of picking Biggs or Percy, the team could have drafted Rickard Rakell. He wasn’t the most productive junior hockey player, but the Ducks who selected five picks after the Toronto Maple Leafs thought he could be something, and he’s turned into a great NHLer.

Rackell is a minimum 20-goal scorer and even had a career high 34-goals in the 2017-18 campaign.

At only 27-years-old, Rackell is in the prime of his career as well, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he scores closer to 30 than 20 goals every season for the next few years.

#9. Nikolaj Ehlers (2014 NHL Entry Draft, 1st Round, 9th Overall)

Toronto’s Actual Pick: 1st Round, 8th Overall (William Nylander)

When this draft happened, there was a real debate between Nylander and Ehlers.

Both players have a similar skill-set, except that Ehlers was left-handed and Nylander was right-handed. Both European players (Nylander was born in Canada but plays for Team Sweden), Ehlers played his junior hockey in Quebec, whereas Nylander played in Sweden.

Many Toronto Maple Leafs fans were torn with this pick because on one hand there was an incredibly skilled Ehlers who just scored 49 goals and 100 points in junior with the Halifax Mooseheads, but comparatively there was Nylander who was already playing with men in the Swedish Hockey League.

Not only that but Nylander’s father was a very good NHLer so you’d think that bloodline would help.

At the end of the day, the Leafs picked Nylander and that hasn’t been a bad choice. Besides his contract hold-out, Nylander has been a 20 goal and 60 point player but was on pace for a breakout year of 37 goals and 70 points before the season stopped.

In terms of point totals, Ehlers has been right there with Nylander averaging essentially the same goal and point totals in their first five seasons.

As crazy as it sounds, if the Leafs picked Ehlers over Nylander I don’t think they’d be any different and the team would be at the exact same spot as it is now.

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