Toronto Maple Leafs: Early Look At Possible 2021 Draft Targets

The hope for Toronto Maple Leafs management and their fans is that the team will finally go deep into the playoffs this season. Doing so would mean that the Leafs will be selecting near the end of  the first round.

I have taken a look at a few different 2021 draft rankings and put together a list of possible selections that I think would be the right choice for the Toronto Maple Leafs to pick.

I decided to stick with the plan of choosing the best player available as opposed to team needs. A team’s needs will be different by the time the drafted player makes it onto the roster.

Here is my list of five possible players the Maple Leafs should draft with their first-round pick should they keep it. all player stats are from EliteProspects.com

The Toronto Maple Leafs Should Select…

Daniil Chayka – LD – Guelph Storm (OHL)

Chayka is a good defensive defenseman who uses his stick well. His good reach is due to him already being 6’3 at age 18.  Last season he recorded 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 56 games.

Bob McKenzie from TSN has Chayka ranked at 13th which would be too high for the Leafs, but Dobberprospects.com has him ranked at 22nd. If he falls to 22nd or further, he could be a good pick for Toronto.

Jack O’Brien – C – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

O’Brien has incredible vision and hockey IQ. He can create plays out of nothing. Those are helpful tools for a centreman to have. He is currently 6’0 and 160 Lbs., but at just 17 years old he still has plenty of time to pack on some more muscle.

Last season he recorded 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 55 games. Eliteprospects.com has O’Brien ranked at 24th and Dobberprospects.com has him ranked at 46th. So depending on how well he plays this season, he could be picked by the Toronto Maple Leafs anywhere between pick 20 – 32.

Mason McTavish – C – Peterborough Petes (OHL)

McTavish is a solid centreman with a frame of 6’1″ 200 Lbs. He has a good shot and knows when to use it and when to be patient. Last season he recorded 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points in 57 games.

McTavish is one of the more pure goal scorers in the 2021 draft which would be a nice addition to the Leafs prospect pool. Dobberprospects.com has him at 24th and Eliteprospects.com has him at 23rd. So he could be available to Toronto somewhere between picks 20 – 32.

Artyom Grushnikov – LD – Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Grushnikov is a good passing defenseman who can make a good first pass to get the puck out of the defensive zone quickly. He is currently 17 years old and is already 6’2′ and 175 Lbs. With plenty of time to add more muscle, he could become a solid defenseman that is hard to get the puck from.

Last season he recorded five points in 29 games for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva of the MHL in Russia. This year was supposed to be his first season in North America, but the OHL season hasn’t started due to Covid-19. Sportsnet.ca has him ranked at 27th and Dobberprospects.com has him at 45th, so he could be a late first-round pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Zachary Dean – C – Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Dean is a good stick handler with a great backhand shot. He uses this shot often to fool goaltenders. His playmaking is his specialty and can make good tape-to-tape passes. Dean is 6’0 and 176 Lbs. but will need to fill out and get bigger so he can better protect the puck against bigger defenders.

Last season he recorded 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points in 57 games. Dobberprospects.com has him at 26th and Eliteprospects.com has him at 32nd. If he is still available when the Toronto Maple Leafs make their selection, he could be a good pick-up.