On this day 30 years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Saskatoon Blades defenseman/winger Wendel Clark first overall at the NHL Draft, which was the last time that the Blue and White had the top pick.
In spite of missing large chunks of his prime years due to repeated back injuries, the native of Kelvington, Sask. is considered a legend to Leafs fans and a successful #1 overall pick after scoring 330 goals in 15 seasons and leading Toronto along with Doug Gilmour to within a single goal of the Stanley Cup Final in 1993.
30 years ago today, the #Leafs selected Wendel Clark with the 1st overall pick in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft pic.twitter.com/LQjyzUrkJc
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 15, 2015Since then, the Leafs have picked in the top five three times. It is too early to accurately evaluate 2012 fifth overall selection Morgan Rielly, but the 21-year-old defenseman has played two NHL seasons and appears to have the skill set and hockey intelligence of a top pairing blueliner.
The two other selections are considered failures. Scott Thornton was picked third overall in an average 1989 draft as part of Gord Stellick’s Belleville Bulls bonanza and was a quality depth forward who played for six NHL teams over an 18-year-career, but played only 33 games with the Leafs before being sent to Edmonton in the Grant Fuhr/Glenn Anderson deal.
In 2008, Cliff Fletcher swapped a future second and third round pick to the New York Islanders to move up into the top five. Fletcher was not able to trade up high enough to get franchise lynchpins like Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty or Alex Pietrangelo and selected Kelowna defenseman Luke Schenn.
Schenn followed the long line of Maple Leafs blueliners(Gary Nylund, Jim Benning, Al Iafrate) who were ruined by being rushed to the NHL as an 18-year-old.
After a good rookie season, Schenn did not show much progress in three successful seasons and was traded in June 2012 for ’07 second overall pick James van Riemsdyk.
The 2015 NHL Draft is expected to be the most talent laden in over a decade and with the fourth selection, it is arguable that the Leafs could be selecting the most impactful young player since Clark in 1985, but it is still unknown whether Dylan Strome(if he is not selected by the Coyotes), Noah Hanifin or Mitch Marner is the one that Brendan Shanahan and the Toronto management staff believe is that player.
The only thing that is for sure is that whoever the Leafs take, he will not be playing in the NHL for two or three years, as the club embarks on a developmental plan to maximize the abilities of the prospects they add to the organization.
The Maple Leafs announced that they will be hosting a draft party at Maple Leaf Square beginning at 5pm on Friday, June 26th for fans to watch the club’s two first round selections, fourth and 24th overall.
“The draft is an integral part of the Leafs’ future success and we’re excited to be sharing this experience with our fans,… Leafs President Brendan Shanahan said in a press release on Monday. “This party is just one small way to show our gratitude to Leafs Nation because we’re not a team without our fans.…
The club will host a free BBQ and party co-emceed by Leafs in-arena host Lauren Howe and play-by-play announcer Joe Bowen, with appearances by Wendel Clark, Hockey Hall-of-Famer Darryl Sittler and Morgan Rielly.
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