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Leafs Swap Harrington for Rychel; 2016 Draft- Day 2

June 25, 2016, 9:13 AM ET [1736 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Toronto Maple Leafs made 10 selections on Day 2 of the NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY and capped off the day with a minor trade, swapping defenseman Scott Harrington and a conditional draft pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for former first round pick Kerby Rychel.



The 21-year-old Rychel was the 19th overall selection of the Blue Jackets in the 2013 NHL Draft and has split time between Columbus and the American Hockey League the last two seasons, with two goals and 10 assists in 37 NHL games.

The 23-year-old Harrington was acquired along with Kasperi Kapanen, Nick Spaling and two draft picks in the Phil Kessel last July and played 32 games for the Leafs and Marlies before suffering a season-ending upper body injury.

Harrington was one of a number of defensemen who were to challenge for a bottom pairing spot on the Toronto roster next season, but needed a new contract and would have to clear waivers if he was unable to crack the Leafs roster. Rychel has another two years remaining on his entry-level deal and can clear waivers.

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Here are some brief observations on the Leafs selections:

2nd Round -31st Overall

Yegor Korshkov, 6'3", 179lb, Right Wing


Toronto goes off the board for the opening pick in the second round, selecting 19-year-old Russian winger Yegor Korshkov at #31. Korshkov is a late bloomer, who went undrafted in 2014 and 2015, but impressed as a member of Team Russia at the 2016 IIHF World Juniors in Helsinki, scoring two goals and six assists.

Note from Russ Cohen of Sportsology : Trails the play well. Keeps up with the pack..skating-wise. Turned on the jets and smoked (Blue Jackets 15 first rounder) Zack Werenski for a goal. Got inside position and never gave it up.

Depending on his contractual status with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, Korshkov could be slated to play for the Toronto Marlies next season.

2nd Round - 57th Overall

Carl Grundstrom, 6'0", 194lb, Left Winger


Toronto surprisingly goes for a forward at #57 after the run of goalies take Carter Hart, Tyler Parsons and Filip Gustavsson off the board.

Grundström is described as an aggressive forward who plays with intensity. A strong skater and tenacious defensively who also can produce offensively.




3rd Round - 62nd overall

Joseph Woll, 6'3", 196 lb, Goaltender


Toronto gets their goaltender in USNTDP product Joseph Woll, a native of the St. Louis area. Woll played well for Team USA at the Under-18's in Grand Forks, ND and is committed to play at Boston College University.

3rd Round - 72nd Overall

James Greenway, 6'4", 205lb Defenseman


The Leafs select another USNTDP product with Greenway, whose brother Jordan was a 2nd round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2015. The big defenseman has to work on footwork and aggressiveness, but has all the physical tools. Greenway is committed to the University of Wisconsin.

4th Round - 92nd overall

Adam Brooks, 5'10' 174lb Center


Toronto once again goes for a player who went undrafted in 2014 and 2015. Brooks led the Western Hockey League with 120 points and scored 23 points in the playoffs for the WHL's Regina Pats.

4th Round - 101st Overall

Keaton Middleton, 6'6" 233 lb, Defenseman


The massive Middleton is the second defenseman selected by Toronto and completed his second season for the OHL's Saginaw Spirit (whose former GM Jim Paliafito works on the Leafs scouting staff).

The 6'6", 233 lb blueliner is projected as a shutdown defenseman and improved in his second OHL season, but will need time to round out his game.


5th Round - 122nd overall

Vladimir Bobylyov, 6'2" 205lb Left Winger/Center


The Leafs second Russian-born player selected, it also reveals that Mark Hunter has gone mostly for size in this draft after concentrating on skill in his first draft last June. Boblyev moves well for a big winger and jumped from 9 points to 67 in his second WHL season.




6th Round - 152nd overall

Jonathan "Jack" Walker, 5'11" 179lb Left Winger


Bobylyev's linemate with Victoria is selected by Toronto in the sixth round. Walker turns 20 in July and had 84 points (36 goals, 48 assists) in his fourth WHL season.

6th Round - 179th overall

Nicolas Mattinen, 6'5" 220lb Defenseman


Hunter goes with a player he knows well in Mattinen, another big defenseman with the size to play in the NHL. Slid to the 6th round because he was scratched numerous times during the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup, but the belief is that Mattinen will get more playing time this season with Olli Juolevi potentially leaving for the NHL.

7th Round - 182nd overall

Nikolai Chebykin, 6'3" 209lb, Forward


The 6'3" 209 lb winger played for the Russian second division HK MVD Balashikha and scored 35 points last season. Chebykin was a player that intrigued the Leafs European scouts and will likely stay in the MHL/KHL for the next few seasons.

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Listening to "The Convo" with myself and CTV's Norman James discussing the NHL Draft and the Stamkos situation:








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