The 5 Best Toronto Maple Leafs First Round Draft Picks in the 21st Century

Tuukka Rask

Not many goaltenders were usually taken as early as the first round of a draft, unless it was believed that they were already performing at an elite level with the potentials of becoming a star in the league as a result. Well, the Leafs took the big gamble back in 2005 when they took Finnish goalie Tuukka Rask with their 21st overall pick. That selection turned out to be huge, based on how Rask’s career ended up being.

From there, Rask would go on to put up eye-popping, dominant numbers in what would ultimately become an illustrious 15-year career in the NHL.

With a lifetime 2.28 GAA, .921 save percentage and 308 wins in his resume, Rask also managed to add a Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy to his trophy case. On top of that, he had won the Stanley Cup once as a backup, as well as reaching the Finals as a starter on two other occasions.

All of that was fantastic, but unfortunately Rask would accomplish all of those feats in a Boston Bruins uniform.

For a Maple Leafs team that had been constantly looking for top-notch goaltending the past couple of decades to man their crease, they sure gave a true winner away in which they once had firmly in their grasp. So the moral of the story for the Leafs: don’t give up a first round selection that you make until you truly know what they are capable in doing.