For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
Matthews receives 164 of the 167 first place votes.
*******
The Toronto Maple Leafs do not have the luxury of a top 10 pick in the first round of the NHL Draft for the first time since 2013, but Assistant GM Mark Hunter and the Leafs scouting staff have proven with two strong drafts that they have a keen eye for talent.
With their selection 17th overall, the Leafs may still choose to pick the best player available, but their lack organizational depth (especially on defense) could have Hunter focusing on blueline prospects that can step in two to three years down the road, when the Leafs core group is just beginning to enter their prime.
The course of the first round will have an effect on which direction Toronto will go. If the top half of the first round is heavy on forwards and multiple defensive prospects are on the board at 17, the Leafs could choose to move down and recoup the third round pick surrendered to Detroit as compensation for hiring Mike Babcock or just take the top blueliner on their draft board.
If there is a run on defensemen, the Leafs may try to trade up to get one of the blueliners they've targeted or they may opt to select the best available center (a position heavily represented at the top of the draft and that the Leafs are thin at).
As with their intentions in the trade and free agent market, there are not many hints of which way the Leafs will go on Friday, but their scouting staff left little to chance at the NHL Draft Combine earlier this month by interviewing nearly all of the over 100 prospects.
With defensemen Timothy Liljegrin, Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar all projected to go in the top 10, here are five players who may be still available for Toronto when they select at 17:
Urho Vaakanainen – D (Finland) : Born on New Year’s Day 1999, the 6’0” 185 lb defenseman started at 16 and has played two seasons in the Finnish SM-Liiga and is considered a solid two-way defenseman.
“(Vaakanainen) is a good skater and can rush the puck up ice with confidence,” according to HockeyProspect.com. “(He is) very solid defensively without playing a very physical style of game.”
Juuso Valimaki – D (Tri-City - WHL) : Valimaki has played two seasons in the Western Hockey League and scored 19 goals with the Tri-City Americans last season. His offensive skills are top-notch, but there is work to do on the defensive side of his game.
Callan Foote – D (Kelowna – WHL) : A second-generation defenseman, Foote appears to have more offensive upside than dad Adam (51 assists with the Rockets last season), but also has the makings of a shutdown defenseman.
“(Foote) plays with strength and physical prowess, and has a knack for taking away a players space behind the net.” per HockeyProspect.com 2017 Draft Preview. “(He) plays with a bit of edge, but doesn’t take cheap plays lightly and certainly holds opponents accountable when they decide to cross the line.”
Erik Brannstrom – D (HV 71- SHL) : A teammate of Leafs prospect Andreas Borgman on the SHL Champions, Brannstrom has a high-skill set and top-end skating ability, but may scare teams off due to the stigma attached to being a small defenseman (5’9”), in spite of the fact that there are a few examples (Torey Krug and Ryan Ellis) who are on the smaller side and are having successful NHL careers.
“(Brannstrom’s) quickness, agility and edge work is outstanding and he relies on these skills heavily to evade opponents and create time and space for himself.”
Ryan Poehling – C (St. Cloud St – NCAA) : A smart, speedy center with size, Poehling did not put up great numbers as a freshman at St. Cloud State, but has the mental and physical makeup that projects to be a second or third line NHL center.
“Poehling plays a straight ahead simple game down the middle of the ice.” according to HockeyProspect.com. “He displays great ability to battle along the walls and doesn’t give up on pucks.”
Check out the HockeyProspect.com Black Book for the lowdown on players selected at the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago.
*******
The Maple Leafs announced that their home opener will be on Saturday, October 7 vs the New York Rangers at Air Canada Centre.
*******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.*******
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»