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4 Reasons Why Toronto Maple Leafs Succeeded and Sabres Didn’t

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks for a puck to tip at Linus Ullmark #35 of the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks for a puck to tip at Linus Ullmark #35 of the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Rasmus Sandin poses after being selected twenty-ninth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Rasmus Sandin poses after being selected twenty-ninth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

#1. Drafting and Developing

These two aspects are some of the most important pieces to a NHL franchise.

In order for a team to sustain growth, the team must have a good farm team that’s developing prospects to replace current players when they get too expensive or under-perform.

Before we compare drafting, let’s look at the developmental process.

Ever since Kyle Dubas was hired as Assistant G.M. of the Toronto Maple Leafs and G.M. of the Toronto Marlies, the development of the organization has soared. Dubas continued to groom players in the Marlies and once they made the leap to the Maple Leafs, they were ready to perform.

Every season, there seems to be at least two-three former Marlies that make the jump and become everyday players in the NHL and that’s all thanks to the development system the team has created.

Since the AHL season was cancelled this year, the Marlies have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons, including one Calder Cup championship, and four Conference Championship appearances.

The Buffalo Sabres farm team (Rochester Americans), haven’t made it past Round One of the playoffs since 2005. Although you might not think that AHL success means a lot towards the NHL team’s success, it actually does.

Those meaningful games that each player performs in during the AHL playoffs sets them up for the NHL. Crowds get bigger and games get more meaningful and it helps makes the transition so much easier. That’s why there are so many Marlies from that 2018 Championship team that are currently excelling on the Leafs roster.

Although developing players is so important, that development starts with the draft.

Here’s an outlook on the Sabres and Leafs best draft picks since 2014.

Buffalo Sabres:

  • Sam Reinhart (2nd overall, 2014)
  • Jack Eichel (2nd overall, 2015)
  • Alex Nylander (8th overall, 2016)
  • Casey Mittlestadt (8th overall, 2017)
  • Rasmus Dahlin (1st overall, 2018)
  • Dylan Cozens (7th overall, 2019)

Toronto Maple Leafs

  • William Nylander (8th overall, 2014)
  • Mitch Marner (4th overall, 2015)
  • Travis Dermott (34th overall, 2015)
  • Auston Matthews (1st overall, 2016)
  • Rasmus Sandin (29th overall, 2018)
  • Nick Robertson (53rd overall, 2019)

It’s so funny that even their drafting is comparable with both teams selecting a Nylander and a Rasmus.

Of those six players, the only players the Leafs would rather have from Buffalo would be Rasmus Dahlin and Jack Eichel, but instead they have Mitch Marner and Rasmus Sandin from those draft classes, which isn’t too bad either.

Even as the Leafs have continued to make the playoffs, they’ve been able to steal prospects like Sandin and Nick Robertson late in the draft, who will be full-time NHL players as early as next season.

Other players the Leafs drafted in that time-frame like Timothy Liljegren, Adam Brooks and Joseph Woll didn’t even crack the top-six of Leafs draft picks and they are all bound to be full-time NHLers as well.

Next. 3 Worst Moves by Brian Burke as Leafs G.M.. dark

Drafting and developing is so crucial, but until the Sabres figure that out the same way the Maple Leafs did, it may be another few years until they make it back to the playoffs and become relevant again.

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