Possible Winger Options for the Toronto Maple Leafs at 2024 NHL Entry Draft
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the 23rd overall pick in this year's NHL draft. They might trade it away between now and June 28th, but for this article, I will assume that they are keeping it.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to get a prospect as good as Easton Cowan or better in the 2024 NHL draft.
Cowan was taken with the 28th overall pick in last year's draft and has become a promising prospect for the Leafs. Selecting any prospect late in the first round is hit or miss, and sometimes, a team will get lucky.
After being drafted by the Leafs, Cowan registered 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points in 54 games for the London Knights this season in the OHL. He helped the Knights make it to the Memorial Cup but came up short in the championship game.
Cowan is expected to receive a long look during training camp in September and could even get into a few NHL games to start the 2024-25 season. (All Stats from eliteprospects.com)
Once the Toronto Maple Leafs make their first-round selection, they will not have another pick until the fourth round, so they need to make sure that their first pick in the 2024 NHL draft is a good one. In my previous article, I wrote about which center or defense prospects the Leafs should draft. In this article, I will highlight which wingers the Leafs should consider drafting.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 NHL Draft Options: Right Wing
Matvei Gridin
Matvei Gridin is a 6'1, 185 Lbs, right-winger from Kurgan, Russia. Central Scouting has him listed as 21st among North American skaters. He is expected to be a late first-round pick or early to mid-second-round pick. Scouts have him as high as 26th and as low as 61st in the 2024 NHL draft.
Gridin registered 38 goals and 45 assists for 83 points in 60 games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. His NHL comparable is Nick Schmaltz on the yet-to-be-named Utah hockey club. He is committed to the University of Michigan next season in the NCAA.
Terik Parascak
Terik Parascak is a 5'11, 179 Lbs, right-winger from Lethbridge, Alberta. Central Scouting has him listed as 15th among North American skaters. Expect to see him drafted mid-first-round to early second-round. Scouts have him going 16th - 59th in the 2024 NHL draft, but most have him being selected in the first-round.
Parascak registered 43 goals and 62 assists for 105 points in 68 games for the Prince George Cougars in the WHL. His NHL comparable is Tyler Toffoli of the Winnipeg Jets. Another year in the WHL is likely for Parascak before turning pro. His development has slowed at times, so a bit more seasoning in the WHL will be better for him.
Emil Hemming
Emil Hemming is a 6'1, 194 Lbs, right-winger from Vaasa, Finland. Central Scouting has him listed as 6th among international skaters. Expect to see him drafted in the first round. Scouts have him going 14th - 34th in the 2024 NHL draft. He played in the Finnish men's league (Liiga) at the age of 17 this season.
Hemming registered seven goals and four assists for 11 points in 40 games for the TPS in Liiga. His NHL comparable is Jake DeBrusk of the Boston Bruins. He is committed to playing for TPS again next season.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 NHL Draft Options: Left Wing
Andrew Basha
Andrew Basha is a 6'0, 185 Lbs, left-winger from Calgary, Alberta. Central Scouting has him listed as 26th among North American skaters. Expect to see him drafted in the first round. Most scouts have him going 14th - 30th in the 2024 NHL draft.
Basha registered 30 goals and 55 assists for 85 points in 63 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL. His NHL comparable is Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes. I would expect him to return to the WHL for one more season before turning pro.
Nikita Artamonov
Nikita Artamonov is a 5'11, 187 Lbs, left-winger from Nizhnekamsk, Russia. Central Scouting has him listed as 19th among international skaters. Expect to see him drafted in the first round. Most scouts have him going 19th - 34th in the 2024 NHL draft. However, some scouts think he might get selected in the top 15.
Artamonov registered seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 54 games for the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. Not bad for an 18-year-old playing in a men's league as competitive as the KHL. His NHL comparable is Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames. He is committed to playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod next season.
Marek Vanacker
Marek Vanacker is a 6'1, 170 Lbs, left-winger from Delhi, Ontario. Central Scouting has him listed as 17th among North American skaters. Most scouts don't have Vernacker going in the first round, but without a second-round pick, the Leafs might use their first-round pick on him if they want him. Expect him to get selected anywhere between picks 25 to 57 if the Leafs don't draft him.
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Vanacker registered 36 goals and 46 assists for 82 points in 68 games for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL. His NHL comparable is Trevor Moore of the Los Angeles Kings. He will likely play in the OHL next season before turning pro.