Draft Consultant and Data Specialist impressed with Kyle Dubas and the Leafs' 2022 draft class
The Leafs came into the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with just two picks, but ended up walking away with 5 players in the draft. Given the fact that the Leafs dealt their first round pick to Chicago to move Petr Mrazek's contract, they faced pretty long odds to come out of the draft with any real NHL-caliber prospects. Instead, they walked away with 2-3 probable future NHLers.
There were several clear winners and losers in the draft, with the Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild all making the most of their draft capital. By the time all is said and done, each of these teams will likely see 4 or more of their prospects from the 2022 draft class play NHL games. As for the losers, the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche left a lot to be desired, plucking what could amount to 1 or less probable prospects who are likely to become NHL players.
Bader listed the Leafs and Hurricanes as two teams who really seemed to overachieve in this draft. Bader's model excludes goalie picks, so that means Leafs may have a chance to hit on 3 of their 4 player picks in the draft, which is exceptional value should that occur.
Excluding goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby (whom the Leafs selected in the 4th round), the Buds plucked forwards Fraser Minten, Nick Moldenhauer, Nikita Grebenkin and Brandon Lisowsky. Lisowsky is obviously the longest shot to play in the NHL, being a 7th rounder and all. Grebenkin (or Grebyonkin) was a 5th rounder and an overager. He does possess NHL size at 6'2 and 183 pounds, so playing in the NHL could be a possibility, but we'll get a better idea where he's at this season with Magnitogorsk Metallurg in the KHL. Minten and Moldenhauer both play a responsible two-way game and bring a high compete level to the table. Both 18-year-olds project to be middle six NHL forwards.
A tidy bit of work from GM Kyle Dubas and the Leafs' scouting staff on the draft floor in Montreal, I must say.
