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Re-Drafting Toronto Maple Leafs History: 2014 NHL Entry Draft

ByStephen Nixon|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 27: William Nylander is selected eighth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on June 27, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 27: William Nylander is selected eighth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on June 27, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at Amalie Arena on February 25, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at Amalie Arena on February 25, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

#3. Edmonton Oilers

Actual: Leon Draisaitl

Re-Draft: Brayden Point

With the third pick in the NHL Entry Re-Draft, the Edmonton Oilers still get to select a centre who played junior in the WHL, except he’s four inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter.

Although the Oilers miss out on drafting the future Art Ross winner and potential Hart Trophy winner, they still are getting a great consolation prize in Brayden Point.

Point is another example of how great the Tampa Bay Lightning’s scouting department has been over the past decade. Point was originally the 79th overall selection in this draft, so his stock has risen more than anyone else in this re-draft and it makes sense why.

Point had a break-out season on the President’s Trophy winning 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning team when he scored 41 goals and had 92 points.

Although his point totals dropped a little this year, Point will most likely continue to be reliable 30-goal scorer in the NHL and will be a key piece towards Tampa Bay’s success.

#4. Calgary Flames

Actual: Sam Bennett

Re-Draft: Dylan Larkin

Remember when Sam Bennett couldn’t do a single pull-up during the NHL Combine heading into this draft?

I know that shouldn’t mean much as you never have to do a pull-up during an NHL game, but I feel like that should have been a red-flag for Calgary.

Although these players are only 17 and 18-years-old when they’re displaying their fitness levels during the Combine, a pull-up is pretty easy and the fact that he couldn’t even pull his body weight up once, would at least make me question whether or not I’d want to pick this player with the fourth overall pick.

The Flames didn’t seem to care, as they went with Bennett anyways, although they’re definitely regretting this pick now. Bennett is a steady NHLer, but he’s at best a third-line player, compared to the player on the board they should be selecting: Dylan Larkin.

Larkin is a natural-born leader and will most likely be the next captain of the Detroit Red Wings. His best season came in the 2018-19 campaign when he scored 32 goals and had 73 points, and he’s been the leading scorer on a dreadful Red Wings team for the past three seasons.

Larkin could have been a great young addition beside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, but instead they had to settle with Bennett.

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