Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Retrospective

Second Pick

Nearing the end of the second round at 59th overall, the Leafs decided to pick another European right-shot defender, this time in 6-7 Eemeli Rasanen.

He was seen as a defensive-minded blueliner who was capable of delivering big checks and using his long reach to disrupt plays.

However, from the very beginning his skating was brought up as a major flaw to his game. 

The following season he returned to the Kingston Frontenacs but then went back to join Finland’s KHL team: Jokerit. It was seen as a strange move at the time because he was clearly not so much above than the competition that playing in the OHL would stunt his development. But, playing in the KHL where he was used sparingly, could. 

It might not have been the sole reason but seven years later, Rasanen has only played five games in the Leafs system, all with the Toronto Marlies in 2018-19.

Since then, he has struggled to find his footing playing in various European leagues in Finland, Denmark, and Sweden.

According to everything that I could find, he did not play this year and it is unclear what he is up to or if he plans to make a comeback to professional hockey. 

This was a bad pick.