If the Leafs keep the 25th overall pick, here's who they could be looking at drafting in round 1
The NHL draft combine was in full swing in Buffalo, NY this week, but with the combine coming to a close on Saturday, now feels like as good a time as any to take a look at some potential targets for the Leafs if they choose to hold on to the 25th overall pick.
It can be tricky to predict where a player outside of the top 10 may land in the draft. We've even seen consensus top-10 players drop into the teens, twenties or even out of the first round entirely following poor draft combine showings and we've seen other players who project to go much lower come in and have strong showings at the combine and watch their draft stock rise.
In most cases, many of the players you'll see drafted in the 20-32 range are for the most part interchangeable, save maybe the rare exception who falls from the teens into the 20's for one reason or another. In addition, many of the players you see go at the top of the second round are actually players who possess first round talent, so for a team like the Leafs who have a particularly strong scouting staff, the opportunity is there to do really well in this range.
Last year, the Leafs used their first pick on USHL standout Matthew Knies - a pick that, by all appearances, seems to have been a home-run. The Leafs did not have a first round pick last season but were able to nab Knies in the 2nd round, at 57th overall. Of course, last year's draft was a crapshoot due to COVID and the impact that the pandemic had on the various feeder leagues and the inability for scouts to actually travel to scout players. The year before last, the Leafs used their first round pick on Russian winger Rodion Amirov. Unfortunately, due to his health status and his battle with a brain tumor, there's no real way to determine what to expect. All we can do at this point is wish Rodion well and hope for the best outcome possible with his treatment.
This year, the draft appears to be a very deep one, which should bode well for the Leafs, who, for the most part, have stuck to the "draft the best player available (BPA) strategy. There are a few players that should be able to be had in and around that 25 spot who could be very solid additions to the Leafs, whether it be on the blueline or up front, starting with defenseman Tristan Luneau.
Luneau is a right shot defender who is known for his puck-moving abilities and his intelligence. He's not going to make the risky play or try to force something that isn't there. He's got an excellent shot, which has been on display during his time with Gatineau in the QMJHL.
The 18-year-old was the top pick in his QMJHL draft year and already possesses NHL size, at 6'1, 188 lbs. His skating, however, needs improving before he's ready for the NHL. This is, however, one area where the Leafs could really help him. He also has some solid stickhandling skills to make up for the inefficiencies in his skating. Once his feet catch up to his hands, look out.
Another option for the Leafs at 25 is Adam Ingram, a USHL standout who had a bit of a streaky season and will likely fly under the radar of several other teams as a result. Ingram is a 6'2 C/LW and will be 19 years old this October, so he's one of the older prospects in the draft, but he has a rocket of a shot and also solid vision as a playmaker. He's got plenty of tools in the tool box.
Ingram is a dual threat player with excellent hands and he can make defenders pay with both his release and with his ability to complete difficult passes. He's never going to be the fastest guy on the ice, but he has a long reach and protects the puck well. He's not the guy who's going to lead your rush, but he has the offensive mindset to both finish and create high-danger chances for his line mates. However, at just 165 pounds, he will definitely need to bulk up a bit. Ingram has been ranked anywhere from the mid 20's to the 70+ range in the various draft rankings, so it's anyone's guess as to when he'll go, but whoever nabs him will certainly be getting a player who will play NHL games at the very least. His ceiling, in my opinion, is reasonably high though. He had 53 points in 53 games with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL this season.
Liam Ohgren is another option that could be an enticing one for the Leafs with the 25th pick, assuming he's still on the board. Ohgren has that dog in him. His compete level is very good and although he's not the strongest skater in the draft, he's certainly one of the hardest working and has a fantastic release and can beat goalies from far out, but also forces his way into the high-danger areas to create chances there.
The 18-year-old Swede is a shoot-first winger who, at his ceiling, could be a good power play contributor. He likely tops out as a middle-six guy at the NHL level, but he has the potential to be a good one. The Athletic's Corey Pronman likens Ohgren to LA Kings forward Alex Iafallo.
I'm sure that with the combine wrapping up this weekend that we'll hear more about some of the prospects who may have impressed the Leafs, but it's really anyone's guess as to which way Kyle Dubas and company are leaning. They may even attempt to trade down to secure an additional pick in the third round.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 3 | 161 ANSWERS If the Leafs keep the 25th overall pick, here's who they could be looking at drafting in round 1 Who should the Leafs go after if they pick 25th overall? | ||
| Adam Ingram | 31 | 19.3 % |
| Liam Ohgren | 21 | 13 % |
| Tristan Luneau | 56 | 34.8 % |
| Other | 53 | 32.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
