For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected a player they were quite familiar with in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, choosing Swedish defenseman Ramsus Sandin 29th overall at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX on Friday night.
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas traded the 25th overall pick to the St. Louis Blues, moving down four slots to add an extra third round pick and still was able to get Sandin, who was the highest scoring rookie defenseman for the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.
“We picked the player that our scouts had as the best player on our board.” Dubas said at the NHL Draft on Friday. “Playing in the Soo allows me some greater familiarity with people and greater insights into people and we are fortunate in that regard. We are happy that we got a guy we wanted.”
The 18-year-old Sandin had 45 points (12 goals, 33 assists) in 51 games for the Greyhounds (an organization that Dubas managed until joining the Leafs in 2014) and was described as a “well rounded defender with good mobility, who shows good possession skills where he confidently handles the puck and makes strong decisions.” said
Hockey Prospect.com’s Mark Edwards, who ranked the Leafs first rounder 30th in his 2018 Draft prospect rankings.
(Sandin is) a capable puck carrier with good footwork, its his ability to see the ice and lead transition with an great first pass that allows him to thrive. Rasmus possesses excellent edge work and can effortlessly elude an opponent showing poise and strong footwork.”
There is some question where the young Swede will play next season. Sandin was loaned by Rogle BK and has a year remaining on his SHL contract, which means he could return to the SHL club for next season, stay with the Soo for another year or possibly play in the American Hockey League for the Toronto Marlies, but Dubas indicated after the pick that a decision will be made after they get a look at him during development camp and the rookie tournament in September.
*******
In the second round (52nd overall), the Leafs selected Owen Sound defenseman Sean Durzi. The Mississauga, ON native is 19 years old and went undrafted in 2017, but Toronto got a good look at him last July as an invitee to their rookie development camp.
Durzi described himself as an offensive defenseman who relies on his hockey IQ and the blueliner scored 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists) in 40 games for the Attack during the regular season and 16 points in the OHL Playoffs.
*******
Toronto took two centers in the third round. At #76, 17-year-old Semyon Der-Arguchintsev of the Peterborough Petes and Calgary Hitmen center Riley Stotts at #83.
Der-Arguchintsev is the youngest player in the Draft (turning 18 on September 15) and jumped from 29 to 51 points in his second season with the Petes. The Moscow native is friends with Nikita Zaitsev, whose brother played with the Leafs defenseman in Russia.
The 6'0", 172 lb Stotts could not get playing time in Swift Current and broke out after being traded to the Hitmen mid-season, scoring 17 goals in 47 games.
*******
In the fourth round, Dubas dipped into the Soo Greyhounds again, selecting defenseman Mac Hollowell.
Hollowell is an overager (turning 20 years old in September) and scored 56 points with the Soo last season. He is eligible to play in the American Hockey League next season.
*******
In the fifth round, Toronto went blueline once again, selecting Czech defenseman Filip Kral, who came over from Europe last season to play for the WHL's Spokane Chiefs.
*******
The Leafs did not have a sixth round pick, but swapped their 2019 sixth to Buffalo to draft Swedish forward Pontus Holmberg. Holmberg is another overager who went undrafted in 2017. The 19-year-old winger is offensively skilled with pretty good speed and exceptional hockey sense (according to Elite Prospects). Skilled at setting up plays, and scored 20 points in the second division in Sweden, but is expected to play for Vaxjo of the SHL next season.
*******
Toronto finished the draft with a pair of seventh rounders. At #209, they selected Chicoutimi goaltender Zachary Bouthillier. The 6'2" 185 lb. netminder had a 3.42 GAA in 38 starts for the QMJHL club that Felix Potvin played for.
Their final pick at #211 was winger Semyon Kizimov, who scored two goals for Russia in the last year's Under-18's
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»