Toronto Maple Leafs: Mock Draft Monday 1.0
With the Toronto Maple Leafs rebuilding, it’s never too early for an NHL Mock Draft, right?
The 2016 NHL Draft might be five months away, but with the Toronto Maple Leafs on the verge of entering “tank nation” territory, we decided to take an early look at the draft and project who the Maple Leafs might select with their two first-round picks.
Using NHL Lottery Simulator.com, we simulated the upcoming lottery and projected who the Leafs would take in their simulated spot. Going forward, David Morassutti and I will complete a mock draft every third week leading up to the draft in June, and project who the Leafs might pick based on the simulation.
Here’s who we have the Maple Leafs selecting in the inaugural instalment of the Tip of the Tower 2016 NHL Mock Draft:
No. 1: Columbus Blue Jackets — Auston Matthews, C
No. 2: Edmonton Oilers — Patrik Laine, RW
No. 3: Toronto Maple Leafs — Jesse Puljujarvi, RW
David Morassutti: The biggest debate heading into the draft will be deciding who goes after Auston Matthews. Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi have made solid arguments to go No. 2 overall, which is why the Leafs will most likely go with Puljujarvi if Edmonton selects Laine.
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Puljujarvi is known to be a well-rounded player and a serious contender for the No. 1 overall pick. However, Matthews has proved with his success in the Swiss League that he could be a more impactful player right away in the NHL.
Puljujarvi’s stock rose with his breakout performance at the World Juniors where he earned tournament MVP. He led the tournament in scoring with 17 points in seven games, but what is more impressive is the fact that he did it at the age of 17, Matthews is already 18. Size wise, Puljujarvi (6-foot-3, 198 pounds) holds an edge over Matthews (6-foot-2, 194 pounds), but the fact that Matthews is older also gives the Finnish forward a chance to add to his already big frame.
Puljujarvi could make the NHL out of training camp because he has played against men in the Finnish league where he has 18 points in 38 games. He can also go to the AHL next season, which is a major advantage for the Leafs because they can monitor and control his development playing for a dominant Toronto Marlies team.
There could be serious consideration for OHL players like defenseman Jakob Chychrun, or talented forwards like Alex Nylander and Matthew Tkachuk, but they would have to really impress scouts in the final stretch of the season to move past Puljujarvi. It remains to be seen if he can transition from the wing to center, but there is no doubt he can be a dominant player regardless of where he lines up.
No. 4: Buffalo Sabres — Jakob Chychrun, D
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No. 5: Calgary Flames — Matthew Tkachuk, LW
No. 6: Winnipeg Jets — Alex Nylander, LW
No. 7: Vancouver Canucks — Olli Juolevi, D
No. 8: Montreal Canadiens — Julien Gauthier, RW
No. 9: Ottawa Senators — Mikhail Sergachyov, D
No. 10: Carolina Hurricanes — Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW
No. 11: Philadelphia Flyers — Michael McLeod, C
No. 12: Anaheim Ducks — Tyson Jost, C
No. 13: Colorado Avalanche — Dante Fabbro, D
No. 14: New Jersey Devils — Clayton Keller, LW
No. 15: Minnesota Wild — Kieffer Belows, C
No. 16: Toronto Maple Leafs (from Pittsburgh Penguins) — Logan Brown, C
Chris Okrainetz: Standing at 6-foot-6, 218 pounds, Logan Brown is an imposing player who towers over most of his opponents. He’s not just a giant on skates, though. Brown is an above average skater who possesses great vision and awareness on the ice.
Of course, his size helps him on the forecheck and his reach allows him to not only keep the puck away from defenders, but also win puck battles. His father, Jeff Brown, was a longtime NHLer, so you know [Logan] Brown has a good understanding of what it takes to play in the NHL.
This season with the Windsor Spitfires, Brown has nine goals, 36 assists and 45 points in 40 games. Some would like to see the Chesterfield, Missouri native shoot the puck more, which wouldn’t be a bad thing, but the hulking center does well for himself in and around the net.
With the Maple Leafs, Brown would take a few seasons to possibly reach the NHL, but if he was to pan out, he would give the Leafs a big body upfront with top-six potential. Given his size, he’ll likely be a power forward in the AHL and/or NHL. If he can find ways to get the puck to the net more, he’ll likely climb draft boards and go higher than No. 16 overall.
No. 17: Nashville Predators — Charlie McAvoy, D
No. 18: New York Islanders — Jake Bean, D
No.19: Boston Bruins (from San Jose Sharks) — German Rubstov, C
No. 20: Boston Bruins — Max Jones, LW
No. 21: Colorado Avalanche — Logan Stanley, D
No. 22: Detroit Red Wings — Alex DeBrincat, RW
No. 23: Tampa Bay Lightning — Sam Steel, C
No. 24: Arizona Coyotes (from New York Rangers) — Tyler Benson, LW
No. 25: Carolina Hurricanes (from Los Angeles Kings) — Riley Tufte, LW
No. 26: Florida Panthers — Nathan Bastian, C/RW
No. 27: St. Louis Blues — Markus Niemelainen, D
No. 28: Dallas Stars — Brett Howden, LW
No. 29: Chicago Blackhawks — Samuel Girard, D
No. 30: Washington Capitals — Kale Clague, D
Next: What the Toronto Maple Leafs Can Learn from the Florida Panthers
Who do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs should select in this year’s NHL Draft? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.