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Toronto Maple Leafs: Reviewing the 2017 draft class

By Austin Owens

June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Timothy Liljegren poses for photos after being selected as the number seventeen overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Timothy Liljegren poses for photos after being selected as the number seventeen overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Timothy Liljegren puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number seventeen overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 4, Pick 124: Vladislav Kara, LW, Kazan (Russia-Jrs)

6’1″ / 187 lbs / Salekhard, Russia

This was possibly the Leafs’ most questionable pick, mainly because the Russian forward didn’t have a hockeydb page and only had two videos of his play on the internet.

Kara played for Irbis Kazan in the Russian junior league and Bars Kazan in the Russian second tier. He finished with 28 points in 65 games across all competition this past season.

The Leafs scouts obviously saw something in him that made them optimistic about his potential in North America. He is set to play for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL next season, so he won’t immediately make the jump to the Leafs organization.

He already has a solid frame with room to grow as he gets older. The Leafs have done a good job scouting foreign prospects over the years.

After being drafted by the Leafs, Kara will have more eyes on him than ever. The next year will give fans a glimpse into the type of player the Leafs got in this draft.

Round 5, Pick 141: Fedor Gordeev, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

6’6″ / 209 lbs / Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Leafs took another big body in Gordeev. He’s a converted defenceman, who has good speed for a player his size.

Gordeev is great at throwing his weight around and winning puck battles along the boards, the typical stuff you’d expect from a big guy.

He will almost certainly be back in the OHL for the next season or two. In that time, he should be able to bulk up and refine his game to the point where he can play at the next level.

As a fifth rounder, the Leafs aren’t expecting Gordeev to step in immediately. He will have time to come into his own as a defender.

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