The Toronto Maple Leafs Best Options with the 23rd Pick
There is no shortage of players potentially available for the Leafs with the 23rd overall pick
Assuming they don't make a trade, the Toronto Maple Leafs will pick 23rd tonight at the NHL Entry Draft.
It's the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, a day in which teams can alter the course of their trajectory with the right move, getting bragging rights to the league's future best. After picking Easton Cowan last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to hit another home-run.
This year's presumptive first pick is Macklin Celebrini of Boston University, widely expected to go first overall to the San Jose Sharks.
The Chicago Blackhawks at second overall have reportedly being heavily linked to both Michigan State Defenseman Artyom Levshunov and SKA St. Petersburg Winger Ivan Demidov.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of options with the 23rd overall pick. There's a good chance of a strong talent being there at their draft position. Last year, Toronto went off the board a good bit, selecting Easton Cowan 28th overall. No major outlet ranked Cowan as a first rounder, and I myself had him ranked 60th.
This year, Toronto should have more clear options at 23. I thought the easiest way to put them out was to give quck blurbs as a scout, giving to readers a quick summary as to what I would be saying if I was in the Toronto Maple Leafs scouting room.
Here are 23 options for the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 23rd overall pick.
LEFT WING
Igor Chernyshov - Dynamo Moscow - KHL
Review - Chernyshov is a tall, physical forward with a potential power game who can overpower opponents and matched the intnensity of the KHL game. He's a tough competitor who doesn't look all that far from NHL readiness. He didn't have a great season statisically for Dynamo Moscow, but he has the maturity and talent to make those numbers blossom with real minutes in Russia. Should be a potential bottom-six power winger if he's given the chance to.
Andrew Basha - Medicine Hat - WHL
Review - Andrew Basha was a top WHL player for Medicine Hat this season. He got overshadowed by his linemate Cayden Lindstrom, which would happen to just about anybody in this draft class. When Lindstrom injured his back in the midway point of the season, Basha jumped up to the task of replacing the production of his teammate, going from a complimentary asaset to Lindstrom to a driver in his own right. Should be able to handle the hustle of the middle-six. A good pick is he's still on the board.
Cole Eiserman - USA U18 - NTDP
I don't think Eiserman will be there at 23, but Toronto did meet with him so it's worth talking about. Eiserman has arguably the best shot in his game. He could be a realistic 40-50 goalscorer in the NHL. Beyond that, there's signs of a potential average playmaker and some defensive awareness. He's not very physical and the puck moving is a bit lacking. A bit seldom he's doing plays not to drive offense. Even then, 40 goals a season is still of value. I think he'll be gone around the lottery, perhaps as high as Seattle at 8 and as low as Buffalo at 14. St. Louis almost certainly takes him at 16 if he's there. Almost a no-brainer here.
Yegor Surin - Yaroslavl - RUS
Can play both Center and Wing, but likely a LW at the next level. His versatility will be something the team should logically like given they've targeted forwards in recent years who've been able to play multiple positions, like Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten & Nick Moldenhauer. Surin has the mean streak of recent signings in Domi and Bertuzzi. A small reach, but some high reward. Needs to mature his game a good bit.
RIGHT WING
Ryder Ritchie - Prince Albert - WHL
Injuries set back Ryder Ritchie's season a tad, but he rebounded in the end with a strong U18's tournament for the gold medal Canadians with Ritchie playing a large part. He's not the biggest player, but Ritchie is a skilled offensive player with good self-creation. He'll need to take a big step next season, however.
Liam Greentree - Windsor - OHL
Greentree is another player who may not be in Toronto's range at 23, but he has the offensive skill to be a great pickup if he is. One of the highest bets to come out of his draft as a top-six player. Plays an effective power forward game and managed to make an impact even when his team was struggling, a lot. Skating needs some big improvements, however.
Emil Hemming - TPS - FIN
Hemming didn't get the best chance to showcase himself playing most of the season in the Finnish men's league, LIIGA, which isn't the friendliest to players his age, but Hemming is a very creative forward with two-way potential and strong finishing. Looked the part as a complete option at the U18's. Second line two-way forward at his peak.
CENTERS
Jett Luchanko - Guelph -OHL
Luchanko is the closest thing this draft seems to have to an Easton Cowan. He's a highly creative puckhandler who does well consistently making plays. Strong vision and work ethic. He's a good character as well. Could potentially play on the wing as well. A bit small but the energy and skill make up for it. Don't doubt the NHL projection.
Sam O'Reilly - London -OHL
Another Cowan-like player, O'Reilly has more closeness than just stylistic, he also went from the GOJHL and came onto the draft scene as an offensive rookie with the London Knights. Playing alongside Cowan, O'Reilly bumped Cowan off from center and onto the wing. He's probably not Cowan, but it's easy to see the vision of him following the same path.
Michael Hage - Chicago - USHL
Hage struggled with a bit of consistency this season after missing a chunk of last year due to injury last year. He took a major step in the second half, transforming a Chicago team that struggled after losing Macklin Celebrini. When he's at his best, Hage looks like a player who could be on a team's second line. Strong character and work ethic. His two-way offense is very exciting.
Dean Letourneau - St. Andrew's - CAHS
Letourneau is obviously interesting. He's a 6'6 center with strong skating, not easy to have that sort of mobility and balance at that size. And he's dominated the high school circuit, but with a great team in St. Andrew's, which has constantly developed NCAA talent. Letourneau struggled a bit in the USHL in two games, but was out of position in minimal minutes. You'll have to trust whatever the Ontario scouts say in the room.
Sacha Boisvert - Muskegon - USHL
One of the hardest working players in this draft. Boisvert has a strong hockey sense and a natural feel for the game. Has a physical presence and some decent creative moments with the puck. Good off-puck game. Decision making with the puck isn't perfect and he needs to get a bit faster, two things teams have been able to improve on in their development system. Skating isn't the hindrance it was a few years ago, the coaches are getting better teaching it late.
Cole Beaudoin - Barrie - OHL
Highly projectable game. Beaudoin might be the most athletic player in this class. He's a gym rat who works hard both on and off the ice. Big-two way forward who's physical and intense. Does well contributing at all areas of the ice. Calm and collected with the puck. He's not flashy, but a reliable player. Skating isn't that strong and he isn't as creative as you'd like. I think he'll be a quiet favorite off a few teams.
Lucas Pettersson - Modo - SWE
Electric playmaker who's a bit on the lighter side, but benefits from great creativity and speed. Plays like a bullet and can just weave through players. Has shown some good offense looks he could get more of. He'll need to get stronger, he doesn't play like the biggest guy, but 10-15 more lbs could see him Pettersson succeed in a team's middle-six. Can play on the wing as well.
DEFENSE
Dominik Badinka - Malmo - SWE
The Czech defender is a versatile defenseman who will likely be a beneficial factor in him being a Toronto Maple Leaf, who have valued defenders who can play both sides of the blueline in the NHL. He's 6'3, another positive for Toronto who drafts big on defense. He seems like a Brad Treliving guy, but it'll come down to if Badinka is a scouts guy.
EJ Emery - USA U18 - NTDP
Emery is a big, defensive defenseman with a lot of maturity and composure. Perhaps the best pure defenseman in this class. The defensive side of his game is quite pro-ready, but the offense? not as much. He has some good puck moving but doesn't show much in terms of playmaking or finishing in his own end. He's very stay-at-home. There's obvious value in a guy like that, it may not be glamourous but there's some positive. His offensive totals are under par for a first rounder even by defenseman standards. It's a gamble.
Cole Hutson - USA U18 - NTDP
Brother of Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane, Cole is taller than his brother, but with similar skill. He's not as explosive as Hutson, but he's a strong offensive talent who's been one of the best at producing as a defender. Playing with a strong defender in Emery helped Hutson play to his strengths. Will need a strong defensive group around him.
Lukas Fischer - Sarnia - OHL
If the Leafs are going off the board again, Fischer is an interesting option. Son of former NHLer Jiri Fischer, he played over 30 minutes a night for Sarnia this season, and he's only days from being 2025 eligible. Stats aren't super great, he's about 0.5PPG, not that exciting, but it would be decent if next year was his draft. He has a good size and skating combo that could make him a breakout option.
Spencer Gill - Rimouski - QMJHL
Similar to Lukas Fischer, a summer 06 birthday but a right-handed defender and with stronger production. Has a decent two-way game with good creativity and playmaking vision. Skating could use more acceleration and burst. Second-line D potential if he gets faster. Worth as a "steal" option.
Stian Solberg - Valenrega - NOR
Solberg was likely just outside the Leafs range about 2 months ago, but ever since the world championship he's probably now someone who might not be there. Held himself well against men at the Worlds, being a key piece for the Norwegians. Game play in Norway seemed a bit less exciting, blended in more than you would have liked someone playing in a smaller league to do. Hard to not look at the results against real NHLers as optimism.
Alfons Freij - Vaxjo - SWE
Freij has a lot of similarities to Axel Sandin-Pellikka who went to Detroit in the draft last year. Both are strong puck-moving defenseman with passing size and a solid defensive game. Freij has been consistently engaged and creative each game, and could still become even better. Like the potential for him to possibly find his way onto a team's top-four and be a special teams asset.
Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Vaxjo - SWE
Better offensive producer than teammate Alfons Freij, but Freij has more creativity and has looked strong in international play. Sahlin Wallenius has been better in Sweden and a better finisher. Some of these smaller Swedish defenders haven't lived up to potential, he could be an exception, but he's a bit of time away from the NHL.
TRADE THE PICK?
There's a lot of trades that could happen on draft day, and Toronto potentially could join in. Should they? The defensive pool is certainly barren. I don't expect a Mitch Marner trade to happen on the draft floor, but if so, it'll probably take a good bit. I'm not sure anyone in the top-five is selling for him and if so it's probably ot worth it unless Utah can offer a decent package involving the 6th pick.
In terms of moving down, it's interesting if they can get some value out of it. I don't think the Leafs have any bad contracts like they did with Mrazek where they moved from 25th to rid themselves of it. There may be more defense available after 23, but there's still a lot of talent that's hard to pass up on. I don't think the draft is close to equal at 23 vs the second round compared to last year.
THOUGHTS ON THE LEAFS DRAFT
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not shied away from being a bit bold in their recent drafting history. They took Easton Cowan well off the board last year, a move the team surely does not regreeing being risky on. Matthew Knies got taken after sliding in the 2021 draft due to concerns about his character. The move ultimately seems to have worked out as well. The Leafs very well may not take anybody from this list, whether getting a steal or a surprise.
Likely, the Leafs won't go too crazy off the board at 23. There's a lot of good options on the board there that are worthy and of the projected range.
If I had to pretend to be a fly in the Toronto Maple Leafs scouting room trying to guess what the team will do, i'd have a tough time deciding on a definitive answer. Almsot every answer here has a stem of logic to it and a reason that justifies their selection.
I think the Leafs would really be fascinated by someone like Dominik Badinka. This is just speculation on my part but he's a big versatile defenseman, he's mature, has good awareness, and has a lot of NHL tools.
He doesn't feel like the most upside pick but the Leafs could use some stability in their blueline, and I think his ability to play both positions is a plus. He seems a little more of someone Brad Treliving would want rather than the scouts taking. If he's there, I wouldn't be shocked if there's debate on EJ Emery. The offense isn't there yet, but he looks like someone you can see sticking in the league for a while to modest results.
If they do go with another forward, I think they'd be hoping someone creative like Basha or Luchanko falls. With rumors of Mitch Marner's potential exit, there's value in adding some high-caliber playmakers into the depth chart to take over in the next few years.
Based on their fondness of Domi and Bertuzzi, two guys who like to be menacing, I can see there being value in Yegor Surin, especially given Toronto's apparently emphasis on being able to play both center and wing. He has a lot of work to do in terms of growing his game, I can see a scrappy second line forward. It's a bit rich, but I don't hate the potential of what Surin can bring.
Likely the highest upside options are Chernyshov, Connelly & Greentree, and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three. In my opinion, Connelly is the most skilled, and the most uncertain, while Chernyshov has the higheest floor. Greentree could have the highest upside if his skating improves. Toronto does like skating a bit so I could see Connelly and Chernyshov get favor. I don't know if either are there, if any of them are, it feels like a strong bet to take.
My consensus is that there really isn't a consensus. It's hard to see a pick that would be disappointing without going way off the board. Even Cowan was someone who grew on me late in the OHL season, so I wasn't totally displeased with the move.
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Who knows if they even have the pick by draft day. If they do, all indications are that there are multiple potential NHL players possibly available with the 23rd selection, and a chance to add yet another talented option to the Leafs lineup. There's a lot of easy excitement.