Toronto Maple Leafs: Defenceman must be the target in draft

Now that the Toronto Maple Leafs will officially pick 17th in the NHL draft, it’s time for the team’s management to consider which defencemen will be available.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have their best forward depth in recent memory, with the likes of Kasperi Kapanen, Brendan Leipsic and Josh Leivo just some of the young players knocking on the door.

However, with the young Leafs coughing up leads at numerous times throughout the season, it is clear an upgrade along the blue line is necessary.

Roman Polak, a UFA this summer, is also expected to be sidelined until around November with the injury he suffered in the playoffs.

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With this in mind, who could be available for the Leafs at 17th?

Kelowna Rockets defenceman Callan Foote is ranked 17th by HockeyProspects.com and is considered one of the top blue-liners in the draft.

Timothy Liljegren and Cale Makar are expected to be the first two off the board, but Foote could still be there when the Leafs pick.

He is considered to be a two-way defenceman, who has put up 57 total points (6 goals & -51 assists) in 71 Western Hockey League games this season.

He stands at an impressive 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, giving him an NHL-ready frame for a defenceman:

"“An assertive two-way defenceman that reads plays quickly and understands both the offensive and defensive sides of the roles he is put into. His hockey sense is outstanding, and his ability to not just read but start and, on the odd occasion, finish plays is overtly indicative of his high talent level.” – Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects"

If Foote is claimed earlier, however, then the Leafs could look a little closer to home in the form of Mississauga Steelheads’ Nicolas Hague.

Hague is a monster of a defenceman, standing at a whopping 6-foot-6 and 214 pounds.

He is ranked just one spot below Foote, at 18th, and he is currently playing in the OHL Championships with a hope of leading the Steelheads to the Memorial Cup.

In 65 regular season games played this season, he has 18 goals and 28 assists for a total of 46 points.

The big-bodied defenceman is considered to be more offensive-minded, but his sheer size and puck-moving ability will certainly intrigue the Leafs, who have seen him in action recently:

One other option could be Finnish blue-liner Juuso Välimäki, who is ranked 19th by HockeyProspects.com.

Slightly smaller than Foote and Hague at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, Välimäki still has an eye for offence.

The Tri-City Americans defenceman has an impressive 61 total points, including 19 goals, in 60 WHL regular season games played this season.

With Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielsen both expected to make the step up at some stage next season, a young defenceman may require a season to develop.

But with very little depth along the blue line, it wouldn’t be so unusual to see the Leafs give any drafted defenceman a chance to play before making the decision whether to send them back to juniors.

Calle Rosen is also reportedly set to sign with the Leafs, which could see him occupy one of the team’s bottom pairing positions, but it shouldn’t be a reason to not consider one of the top available defencemen in this draft.

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What do you think? Who do you want to see the Leafs target in the draft? Would you be happy with a defenceman, or do you want them to stick with more forwards?