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Looking Back at the Toronto Maple Leafs 2018 NHL Entry Draft

By David Corcoran

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 15: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 15, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Blackhawks 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 15: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 15, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Blackhawks 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 23: Sean Durzi reacts after being selected 52nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs 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: Sean Durzi reacts after being selected 52nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Round 2, 52nd Overall – Sean Durzi

The Toronto Maple Leafs next selection in the draft was a pick the team acquired at the 2015-16 trade deadline when they sent Roman Polak and Nick Spaling to the San Jose Sharks.

Dubas stayed within the Ontario Hockey League and added an right shot offensive defenseman from the Owen Sound Attack’s in Sean Durzi.

Durzi was coming off a 49-point in 40 game season with the Attack where he added an additional 16-points in 11 playoff games.

Just seven months after being drafted, the Leafs were in playoff contention but needed a top four defenseman to join the organization and as such Durzi was used in trade with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Leafs acquired Jake Muzzin in exchange for forward prospect Carl Grundstrom, a 2019 first round pick and Durzi.  The first round pick was used on Tobias Bjornfot who took a step back this past season after earning a full-time role in 2021-22, he spent the majority of the last year in the American Hockey League.

Durzi would join the Kings American Hockey League affiliate Ontario Reign in the 2019-20 season, but it felt that he spent more time battling injuries over his first two years of professional hockey than he did playing, but show he had a lot of offensive upside.

After starting the 2021-22 season in the AHL, Durzi would earn a call-up and play his first NHL game in November 2021 The game came against the Toronto Maple Leafs and he got revenge on the team that traded him as he recorded a goal and an assist; he would follow that up with picking up points in his next two games.

In two seasons playing the NHL, the Toronto native has proven himself as a top four defenseman and can quarterback a powerplay.  Durzi averaged almost 20 minutes a night last season on a Stanley Cup contending team, while recording 16 points with the man advantage.

In what a lot of people thought was a shocking move, the Los Angeles Kings traded Durzi this past June to the Arizona Coyotes for a second round pick.  Durzi, who is still just 24-years old has one year left on his contract at $1.7 Million and the Coyotes will still have his rights at the end of the contract.

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