The NHL Entry Draft is going to be an exciting night for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Instead of getting ready for the season opener on the first Tuesday of October, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be participating in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Currently holding the 15th pick, expect the rumors to swirl until they make that selection.
The NHL Entry Draft has been a welcomed occasion for Leafs fans over the past decade. Thanks for their drafting and developing skills, the team has at least one high-quality player on their current roster from every draft since 2012.
- 2012: Morgan Rielly
- 2013: Andreas Johnsson
- 2014: William Nylander
- 2015: Mitch Marner and Travis Dermott
- 2016: Auston Matthews
- 2017: Timothy Liljegren
- 2018: Rasmus Sandin
- 2019: Nick Robertson
I know that only three of those nine picks were outside of the first round but Liljegren (17th overall) and Sandin (29th overall) were picks past the Leafs current selection, so it’s possible the team will find another quality player with the 15th pick.
Although it’s possible to find a high-end prospect with the 15th overall selection, typically that player will be an average or slightly above-average NHL player. Someone who will definitely help your team, but not someone who will be a franchise player. However, since this draft is stacked, it may be a harder decision for the Leafs on what to do with their pick.
When it comes to their selection (if they actually make it), I hope they don’t draft upon need and instead go with the best possible player available. Within a number of mock-drafts, people are slotting a right-handed defenseman for the Leafs, but in my opinion that doesn’t make any sense. Why take a prospect who probably won’t play for the team for another two years based on a need you have now? That need could be completely different in two years, so take the best possible player. Always.
Anyway, let’s look at three different scenarios that could happen to the Leafs on Draft Night.