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Drafting the Current Toronto Maple Leafs Roster In Their Prime

By Jeff Borsuk

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches the action late in the game against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches the action late in the game against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs – John Tavares (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Third Overall Pick – John Tavares

The Maple Leafs Captain is the third man to hear his name announced in this impossible draft. John Tavares is playing his third season in Toronto and his 12th in the NHL.

Just like Matthews and Thornton, Tavares started his NHL career as the first prospect in his draft class to come off the board. The New York Islanders had the honour of taking him in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. It wasn’t a surprise pick as Tavares remains one of the only players to ever be granted “exceptional status” to enter the Ontario Hockey League at age 14.

Tavares started his career well, being named to the All-Rookie team, and he hasn’t slowed down since. This productive player has never scored fewer than 19 goals in a season. The year he was limited to19 goals was only because it was an NHL shortened season. A lockout meant that the season had just 48 games.

Tavares’s best season was actually his first in Toronto. Living out his dream of playing for the Leafs was only made sweeter thanks to his incredible production in the 2018-19 season. That year he had 47 goals and 41 assists. 37 of those goals even came at even strength. At the time, there were many who pointed out that his transformation into a point vacuum had a lot to do with playing with more talented linemates than he had with the Islanders. One has to wonder just how much more impressive Tavares could have been if he played with better players earlier in his career.

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