Top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Entry Draft Busts of All-Time
By Gordon Munro
Toronto Maple Leafs All-Time Bust # 4. Jeff Ware
Drafted 15th overall in 1995, Jeff Ware was a bruising defenseman listed at 6-4 220lbs.
In his draft year with the Oshawa Generals, he amassed only 13 points in 55 games and added 86 penalty minutes. In his next two seasons with the Oshawa Generals, Ware scored 34 points in 86 games and added 166 penalty minutes. In 1996-97, his final junior season, he featured in 13 games with the Leafs and was pointless in all games.
In his first full professional season in 1997-98, Ware would play 67 games in the AHL with the St. John’s Maple Leafs notching three assists and 182 penalty minutes. He played in two NHL games that same year with the Leafs and was held off the scoresheet entirely without even a single penalty minute. The following year he’d play in 55 games in St. John’s, scoring a goal and four assists for five points and added 130 penalty minutes.
On February 17th of 1999, Ware was dealt to the Florida Panthers for minor leaguer David Nemirovsky. He would play six games with the Panthers that year, registering one assist and six penalty minutes. He also played 20 games for their AHL affiliate the New Haven Beast where he scored one assist and added 26 penalty minutes.
He would go on to play three more seasons in the AHL, playing in 145 games and getting 14 points (all assists) and 360 penalty minutes. He retired in 2002 after undergoing five separate knee surgeries over the course of his career. After all was said and done, Ware played in 21 NHL games, got one assist and 12 penalty minutes.
In the picks following Ware’s selection, there were a few notable names the Leafs missed out on. They were: Martin Biron, Petr Sykora, and Brian Boucher.