Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Retrospective

Fifth Pick

In the fifth round and 141st overall, the Leafs selected 6-7 defender from the Flint Firebirds, Fedor Gordeev.

He fits into the mould that was clearly favoured at the time as shown by numerous other players like; Stephen Desrocher, Keaton Middleton, Nicolas Mattinen, Eemeli Rasanen, and now himself.

This mould is as a big hulking blueliner with very little offensive output. Despite this, he did appear to have good puck skills and solid mobility.

Gordeev would spend the next few seasons playing in the OHL between the Firebirds and Guelph Storm.

He was a part of the Storm’s 2019 OHL Championship roster joining them as a deadline acquisition. Following that season, the Leafs would trade his rights to the Minnesota Wild for a conditional seventh in 2020.

He has since mainly stuck around in the ECHL before joining Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL last year and then coming back to the ECHL. However, as of right now he appears to be returning to Sibir for the 2024-25 season. 

At 25 years old, his NHL prospects are not completely gone yet as we have seen some players go overseas and be able to make a come back. But, given his level of play thus far, it seems unlikely that Gordeev is able to make it to the show at this stage.