Toronto Maple Leafs: 2018 NHL Draft Risers and Fallers in February

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TORONTO,ON – DECEMBER 19: A general view prior to play between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 8-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

With the Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL edging ever closer towards the draft, the month of February was a big one for defencemen moving both up and down the various boards.

In almost every NHL Draft, there is a consensus number one pick, and sometimes a pre-determined top two or three picks, something the Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the league are well aware of.

Outside of the top couple of picks, there is a lot of room for movement during the course of a season. Take last season, when preliminary rankings were released.

Nico Hischier was ranked outside the lottery and Timothy Liljegren was the second-best prospect behind Nolan Patrick. What a difference a season can make.

This year, there is a clear choice at the top of the board. But this is the pivotal stretch of the season where prospects can make or break their draft stock.

In February, there were some outstanding performers, as well as some less-than-exciting months from others slated to go in the first round.

We’re going to take a look at some of the players who had their stock either rise or fall after February was said and done.

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