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Re-Drafting Toronto Maple Leafs History: 2013 NHL Entry Draft

By Stephen Nixon

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: Frederik Gauthier poses with the front office after being selected number twenty one overall in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: Frederik Gauthier poses with the front office after being selected number twenty one overall in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 26: Shea Theodore #27 of the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images).
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 26: Shea Theodore #27 of the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images). /

#7. Edmonton Oilers

Actual: Darnell Nurse

Re-Draft: Shea Theodore

After selecting forwards first overall for three consecutive seasons, the Edmonton Oilers found themselves with the seventh overall selection.

They couldn’t go with another forward could they?

No they couldn’t, as they originally decided to go with defenseman Darnell Nurse. Nurse is a good player and has been a good pick for the Oilers, but there was another defenseman on the board they should have selected instead: Shea Theodore.

It’s taken Theodore a while to crack an NHL lineup, but over the past two seasons, we’ve seen what he can do.

Theodore’s best NHL season came this year when he had 13 goals and 46 points, which was good enough for 10th among all NHL defenseman. Although it’s taken him a little longer to make the leap to the NHL, he’s only 24-years-old, and is only going to get better.

The Vegas Golden Knights recently locked Theodore up until the 2024-25 season at $5.2 million per season and that contract is already looking like a bargain.

#8. Buffalo Sabres

Actual: Rasmus Ristolainen

Re-Draft: Anthony Mantha

At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Mantha is a beast. Not only that, but he can score.

In four seasons, he’s already had two 20-goal campaigns and was on-pace for another one, had he not missed a month of action in the middle of the season.

The Detroit Red Wings are not a good team, but Mantha is one of the bright spots, alongside Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi.

Although Ristolainen is a great player (spoiler alert, he’s going next), the Buffalo Sabres have shown for the past few years that need two things: secondary scoring and goaltending.

Mantha can’t stop the puck but he can’t help the team score more than Ristolainen, so in a re-draft, Mantha would have been a great selection here, playing alongside Jack Eichel every night.

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