There have been a myriad of mock drafts coming out over the past week or two as we approach this year's NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada. When it comes to the Leafs, most seem to believe that targeting a defenseman or a center is the best approach for the Leafs, but according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke, the best player available approach should be the focus.
Rather than using the 23rd overall pick on a defenseman or a center, Kloke is hoping that Dynamo Moscow's Igor Chernyshov is available to the Maple Leafs with the pick, as he believes Chernyshov possesses the very skill set that is coveted by Leafs head of scouting, Wes Clark.
Last summer, the Leafs used the 28th overall pick that they acquired from Washington in the Rasmus Sandin trade to select London Knights standout Easton Cowan. The draft pick had originally belonged to the Boston Bruins.
This year, the Leafs held onto their own draft pick, and at 23rd overall, they're going to be getting a good player one way or another - that is, of course, if they don't trade down to acquire some additional draft capital or move the pick in a deal for an impact player at or ahead of the draft.
