Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Preview: No. 11 Eeli Tolvanen
By Austin Owens
As the Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL prepare for the draft, we look at Finnish winger Eeli Tolvanen who, with a great shot and even better offensive ability, has a bright future ahead of him.
The 2016 draft had several headlining players that controlled the main portion of the coverage in North America. This was particularly true north of the border, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and every other Canadian team failed to reach the playoffs.
This summer will be a different story. Further, there has been a lot of movement in the draft rankings over the course of the season.
We last looked at Martin Necas. Today, we profile Eeli Tolvanen, the top-rated Czech forward and the 10th-ranked prospect on our board.
Tolvanen is another prospect who decided to go to the USHL. He opted to sign a pre-draft tender with the Sioux City Muskateers before the 2015-16 season, guaranteeing him a spot on their roster. In his rookie season, Tolvanen finished second in scoring for the Muskateers, with 17 goals.
Tolvanen was taken 17th overall in the 2016 CHL Import Draft by the Oshawa Generals. However, he chose to return to Sioux City for his draft year. He led the team in scoring and boosted his goal total by 13.
This is what Future Considerations had to say about Tolvanen:
"This goal-scoring winger is a real offensive threat…plays with speed, intensity and skills…elusive with the puck on his stick…likes to shoot and has an impressive accurate shot with an absolutely deadly release…positions himself correctly to be open for the one-timer…a smooth, agile skater and covers ground at high rates of speed in transition…quick thinker who doesn’t stop moving his feet…good speed when carrying the puck and can accelerate quickly"
Tolvanen has impressed over the last year with the Finnish National Team. He had nine points in seven games in last summer’s U-18 Championships. Tolvanen was also a point per game player at the 2017 World Juniors.
Sioux City finished the season with the best record in the USHL. They are playing the Chicago Steel in the Clark Cup Finals. Tolvanen has eight points in 10 games so far.
Tolvanen has committed to Boston College, so, unless he cracks a roster out of training camp, he won’t be playing pro hockey next season.
Next: Leafs 2016-17 Season Review - Morgan Rielly
What’s your take on Eeli Tolvanen? Do you agree with the current projection that he will be drafted 11th overall, or is this too high or low? Further, what kind of career are you predicting for him in the NHL? Share your thoughts in the comments section.