Potential Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 NHL Entry Draft Choices
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
There is a chance the pick could be traded away, but for this article, I will assume that the Toronto Maple Leafs will keep it.
Selecting a player at 23rd overall could be hit or miss. Most players drafted outside the top ten are gambles made by the team selecting them.
The Leafs took a gamble last year in the 2023 NHL draft by selecting forward Easton Cowan with the 28th overall pick.
He registered 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points in 54 games for the London Knights this season in the OHL and is trying to help the Knights win the Memorial Cup. Cowan has turned heads and is considered a steal for the Leafs.
After the first round in this year's draft, the Leafs will not have another pick until the fourth round.
They can move up or acquire additional picks before the draft. However, that is the way it stands right now. So, the best-case scenario for the Leafs would be to hopefully select another player who will be better than his draft position, much like Cowan turned out to be.
The question is, what position do the Leafs need more depth in?
They have plenty of talented wingers and goaltenders in their prospect pool. I think they need to draft either a defenseman or a center, but the reality is that these players are so far from the NHL that by the time they are ready, the Leafs needs will be completely different than they are today.
So while the Leafs would like to have more organizational depth at centre, any general manager will tell you that you should always take the best player available, regardless of position.
Here is a look at possible center and defenseman options for the Leafs to consider during the 2024 NHL draft on June 28th.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 NHL Draft Options: Center
Dean Letourneau
When coaches or general managers talk about having size up the middle, Dean Letourneau is the type of player they're talking about. Letourneau is a 6'7, 209 Lbs center from Braeside, Ontario.
Central Scouting has him listed as 23rd among North American skaters. Overall, he is projected to get drafted late in the first round or early in the second round. Since the Leafs don't own a second-round pick, they could take Letourneau at 23rd overall if he's still on the board.
(All stats from eliteprospects.com)
Letourneau registered 61 goals and 66 assists for 127 points in 56 games for St. Andrews College. His NHL comparable is Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres. He is committed to Boston College in the NCAA for the 2024-25 season.
Jett Luchanko
Jett Luchanko is a 5'11, 183 Lbs center from London, Ontario. Central Scouting has him listed as 20th among North American skaters. He is expected to go anywhere between 18th and 47th in the 2024 NHL draft.
There is a good chance he will be available when the Leafs make their selection at 23. One reason the Leafs may like Luchanko is that he plays a lot like Easton Cowan, who was the Leafs top pick in last year's draft.
Luchanko registered 20 goals and 54 assists for 74 points in 68 games for the Guelph Storm in the OHL. His NHL comparable is William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights. He is only 17 years old but is draft-eligible because he will be 18 (August 21st) by the start of next season. At least one more season in the OHL is likely.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 NHL Draft Options: Defensemen
Charlie Elick
Charlie Elick is a 6'3, 198 Lbs right-shooting defenseman from Calgary, Alberta.
Central Scouting has him listed as 31st among North American skaters. He is expected to go anywhere between 27th and 57th in the 2024 NHL draft.
There is a good chance he will be available when the Leafs make their selection at 23. There are not many defensemen expected to be available in the first round, so the Leafs might need to draft one that most teams have slated for the second round.
Elick registered four goals and 23 assists for 27 points in 65 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL.
His NHL comparable is Esa Lindell of the Dallas Stars. He's not expected to be a big offensive guy but more of a stay-at-home type who hits and blocks shots.
Jesse Pulkkinen
Jesse Pulkkinen is a 6'5, 214 Lbs left-shooting defenseman from Laukaa, Finland.
Central Scouting has him listed as 12th among International skaters.
He is expected to go anywhere between 24th and 42nd in the 2024 NHL draft. Most scouts have him listed as being a second-round pick. He went undrafted last year and is entering this draft as a 19-year-old.
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Pulkkinen registered 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 18 games for JYP U20. He also recorded two goals and six assists for eight points in 29 games for JYP in Liiga. His NHL comparable is Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers. Pulkkinen is expected to play for JYP in Liiga next season.