Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 Draft Targets – April Update

By Austin Owens

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 ***
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 *** /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Toronto Maple Leafs
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 24: Auston Matthews celebrates onstage with Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Lou Lamoriello and Mike Babcock after being selected first overall during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Defence and centres are still the key focus for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 NHL Draft as the cupboards need re-stocking in both areas

It’s official. The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading to the postseason. While they were a wildcard team last season, they hold down one of the top-three divisional spots, meaning they could draft in a different position this year depending on how the first round of the playoffs pans out.

In the 2017 draft, the Leafs sat at 17. A loss in the first round would likely see them get one of the worst picks of the teams bounced from the first round, as the positions outside the lottery are determined by playoff elimination and point total.

Wherever the Leafs land, however, they will get a solid player. The 2018 crop of first rounders is deeper than the previous iteration, with several top-10 calibre talents falling to a team picking near the end of the lottery.

Let’s take a look at a few names the Leafs could look to with their pick in the back half of the first round.

Home/Toronto Maple Leafs