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Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Draft Re-Do: The Dynasty

By Jeremy Franks

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: (l-r) Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs handle the draft table during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: (l-r) Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs handle the draft table during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews 2022-23 Season
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The 2016 NHL Draft: Matthews Remains a Leaf

The Leafs won the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery and with it the right to select Auston Matthews with the first overall pick.

He is by far the best NHL player taken in this draft. The Leafs made the correct call here.

This year their other picks were Egor Korshkov (R2, 31), Carl Grundstrom (R2 57), Joseph Woll (R3, 62), J.D. Greenway (R3, 72), Adam Brooks (R4, 92), Keaton Middleton (R4, 101), Vladimir Bobylev (R5, 122), Jack Walker (R6, 152), Nicolas Mattinen (R6, 179), and Nikolai Chebykin (R7, 182).

Notable NHL players selected in this draft were Alex Debrincat at 39th overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Adam Fox went 66th overall to the Calgary Flames. Ross Colton went 118th to the Lightning and Jesper Bratt went 162nd to the New Jersey Devils.

In our draft do-over, Matthews remains a Leaf with the first overall pick, but DeBrincat is picked at number 31 in Round 2. Since Fox is still available he becomes a Leaf with pick number 62 in Round 3. Woll is no longer needed since the Leafs are set in goal from the 2012 draft.

The Leafs now take Bratt and Colton with picks number 72 and 92 overall.

The Leafs’ result after the 2016 NHL Draft do-over? Matthews remains the Leafs number one centre. Woll is no longer with the Leafs as a homegrown goalie. Perennial Norris trophy candidate Fox is now the Leafs’ number one defenseman. Debrincat is added to the top six at forward. Colton and Bratt are now useful third-line players for the Leafs.

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