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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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DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 03: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames . (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 03: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames . (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

#4. Connor Hellybuck (2012 NHL Entry Draft, 5th Round, 130th Overall)

Toronto’s Actual Pick: 5th Round, 126th Overall (Dominic Toninato)

Would you rather have Toninato, who’s played 85 career NHL games or Hellybuck who’s probably going to win the Vezina Trophy this year?

Hmm, I’m going to say Hellybuck.

This seems like clockwork for the Leafs. Another NHL Entry Draft passes, and another future top-five goaltender in the NHL passes them by.

Over the past 15 years, goaltending has been the team’s biggest crutch. Defense is a close second but that spills from the goaltender. Without a solid number-one, the team will never win a championship.

Is Freddie Andersen going to win you a Stanley Cup? He’s been unproven in big games over the past few seasons, but he’s still a good goaltender. Hellybuck on the other hand can win you a Stanley Cup.

Tyler Myers, Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba all left the Winnipeg Jets this season, but that didn’t matter. Hellybuck carried the load and is almost single-handily guiding the Jets to a playoff spot.

With the current stoppage, it’s unsure what would have happened in the last few games but Hellybuck was playing so well that it seemed enviable that the Jets would squeeze into the playoffs.

Although there were 129 other misses before Hellybuck was drafted, the Leafs had a chance at securing one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and once again missed that opportunity.

#3. Johnny Gaudreau (2011 NHL Entry Draft, 4th Round, 104th Overall)

Toronto’s Actual Pick: 4th Round, 100th Overall (Tom Nilsson) 

Close your eyes and picture this for a second: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Johnny Gaudreau.

Could you imagine the type of damage that those three would do if they were on the same line together?

Well, if the Leafs could turn back time, they would have drafted Johnny “Hockey” with the 100th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft instead of Tom Nilsson.

The right-handed defenseman from Sweden turned into nothing, whereas Gaudreau is one of the most skilled players in the NHL.

It makes sense that Gaudreau fell because he’s only 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, but how many times is this going to happen to NHL G.M.’s? Size doesn’t matter as much in today’s NHL and Gaudreau is a perfect example of that.

Gaudreau had a breakout season in 2017-18, then followed it up with an even better year posting 36 goals and 99 points. Typically paired with Sean Monahan, the two are one of the best young duo’s in the NHL and are the reason why the Flames will be in contention for years to come.

It’s a crime that Toronto missed out on this pick because unless the NHL allows players to go to the Olympics, we’ll never get to see a Gaudreau-Matthews connection.

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