Leafs nab hometown kid and potential breakout candidate at 95th overall; he was ranked as high as 39th overall
The Leafs came into day two of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with just 3 picks. They used their first pick (38th overall from Chicago) to draft physical 2-way center Frazer Minten, but did not have another pick until the 79th overall pick. There were several intriguing options on the board at 79, but in the end, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas decided to move back to pick up an extra selection in the draft, moving the 79th pick to Vegas for the 95th and 135th picks.
One of the prospects who Leafs Nation was high on at #79 was Mississauga, ON native and life long Leafs fan Nick Moldenhauer. Almost unbelievably, he was still on the board when the Leafs were on the clock for pick #95. Naturally, the decision for Kyle Dubas and company was an easy one and Moldenhauer got to live out his boyhood dream of putting on a Maple Leafs jersey on draft day.
Moldenhauer, a USHL standout, is a hard-working, skilled forward who may not be the biggest body, but plays with a lot of heart and has absolutely zero quit in his game. The Leafs certainly have shown in the past that they favour hockey IQ and Moldenhauer is no exception, displaying shiftiness, excellent hands and good decision-making under pressure. His idols? Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, of course.
The 18-year-old was ranked anywhere between 39th overall and 129th due to the fact that he was not able to play a full season with the Chicago Steel. He was hit with an illness that resulted in him dropping significant body mass (approx 15 lbs) and also missed training camp. In addition, the young winger was forced to undergo emergency surgery at the beginning of the season after being clipped in the face by a skate on his first shift, causing a nasty laceration. He ended up being limited to just 41 games in 2021-22, but he did not skip a beat, notching 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points over that span.
TLN's Kyle Cushman views Moldenhauer as a serious breakout candidate with a ton of potential and strong offensive instincts. The Leafs may have nabbed an absolute steal near the end of the 3rd round.
