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Leafs Draft Targets - Full Tier list for 2020 and Prospect depth

Created by: Random2152
Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Jun. 4, 2020
Published: Jun. 4, 2020
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Legend
Left Handed
Original Team
Waivers Exempt
Right Handed
Position
Trade Clause
Max Perf. Bonus
Expiry Status
Term Remaining
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
Waivers ExemptMcDavid, Connor
$12,500,000 (Performance Bonus$250,000)
C
NMC
UFA - 5
Description
I am bored. As such I have been doing a whole lotta pre-draft reading. Here is my list of players whom I'd like the Leafs to draft with their current picks. After that, there will be a current prospect blurb and such to show the full possibilities of the organisation.

Prospects to keep an eye on for 2020 NHL draft
This is based on 'need' (aka few wingers and specific skill sets I think the Leafs could use) and not a full list of prospects I like, just interesting ones that fill a role as evaluated by myself. As this is a non-exhaustive list I am certain there are other prospects who would be good for the Leafs or who have other skills we might like out there but whom I don't find interesting enough to keep track of. Feel free to add your own in the comments and I might (probably) will look into them.
Order is loosely based on who I'd take ahead of each other but they should really be viewed as tiers.
No in person viewings (except for Stranges and Evangelista); based entirely on readings.

*IMPORTANT*
I should note that the place where I have the Leafs potentially drafting them does not represent where I think they will be drafted, just the pick I would use were they still available. This is especially true for prospects with the ^ beside their name who I think are overrated and will be drafted far higher than they should be.

Sources:
Dobber Prospects
Pronman's 2020 top 122
Wheeler's 2020 top 100 (50) + 50
PPP
MyNHLDraft
NHLDraftSite

Legend:
*= I Need more info
^= Projected higher than I'd draft
+= or later - ex: 4+ = 4th or later
-= or earlier (usually used to signify acquiring a pick in a round we don't have)

Name - Position - Leafs pick I'd use (round)

Marco Rossi - LC - n/a
Cole Perfetti - LW - n/a

Emil Andrae - LD - 2nd
Zion Nybeck - LW - 2nd
Noel Gunler - RW - 2nd^
Kasper Simontaival - RW - 2nd
Topi Niemela - RD - 2nd
Tyson Foerster - RW - 2nd
Dylan Holloway - LC - 2nd^
Justin Barron - RD - 2nd
Ty Smilanic - LC - 2nd
Kaiden Guhle - LD - 2nd^
Lukas Cormier - LD - 2nd
Braden Schneider - RD - 2nd^
Ryan O'Rourke - LD - 2nd
Martin Chromiak - RW - 2nd
Jean-Luc Foudy - RW/RC - 2nd+
Michael Benning - RD - 2nd+

William Villeneuve - RD - 4th-^
Tyler Tullio - RW/RC - 4th
Theodor Niederbach - RW/RC - 4th
Joel Blomqvist - G - 4th+
Antonio Stranges - LW/LC - 4th
Luke Evangelista - RW - 4th
Donovan Sebrango - LD - 4th
Will Cuylle - LW - 4th+
*Logan Morrison - RC/RW - 4th+

Veeti Miettinen - RW - 5th
*Helge Grans - RD - 5th^
Drew Commesso - G - 5th+
*Thimo Nickl - RD - 5th+

Emil Viro - LD - 6th
*Jacob Dion - LD - 6th
*Samuel Knazko - LD - 6th
Jan Bednar - G - 6th+
*Simon Kubicek - RD - 6th+

Lassi Lehtinen - G - 7th


The above generally agrees with where I think the Leafs are weak in both in the NHL and in the system as I will outline here.
Generally I think that the Leafs should draft some more centres, specifically right handed ones (although I always subscribe to BPA) to fill out a major need for the franchise.
I would also like for them to draft one decent RW that could help facilitate a Kapanen trade or just replacing him if he becomes too expensive down the road, otherwise we don't need RW's.
D-men are always needed although the Marlies are quite full of them right now so we are looking more at projects (aka 4th round and later) for the right side. The Left has more openings on the Marlies and could incentivize a foreign draft pick as they could be slotted onto the Marlies immediately.
I also think Goalies should be considered, more than one as they are voodoo and having a strong pipeline is a good thing. Goaltending is half the game unless you don't have it; then it is 100%.

Leafs top prospects that could be something. This is simply a visual list of what the Leafs have in the cupboards so you can see where they might want to add. I do not consider Barabanov and Lehtonen as prospects due to their age.

Sandin and Liljegren are basically NHL ready and should fully graduate next year from prospect status.
Robertson is the best forward prospect in the system as of right now.
SDA, Abramov, and Abruzzese all have middle 6 upside.
Woll has good fundamentals and wasn't terrible on a bad Marlies squad last year.

Everyone has that one prospect that they are crazy high on and Mike Koster is my baby in that sense. I've been high since his draft day and he has only been proving me right putting up similar numbers to Scott Perunovich while taking a similar path. He tops out as a 2nd pair guy which is why he is included on this list.

Some notable exceptions:
Ian Scott: Injured all year + goalies are voodoo. Need to see how he does professionally before I put him as more than depth. He could very well be something so I left him in the scratches section.
Egor Korshkov (Formerly Yegor Korshkov): I think he tops out as an okay 3rd liner. Definitely a skill set I'd like on the Leafs, but not a difference maker.
Lindgren, Duszac, and Hollowell: Depth guys, likely 3rd pairing if they make it. Being RHD they have a better chance of making it to a bottom 4 spot but even so they are just depth.
Brooks: 4th line centre for the Leafs.
Rubins and Kral: Same as the above 3 RD but on the deep left side, hurting their chances.
Kokkonen: Just for his name alone I want this guy to make it. He is well regarded but had a meh year with injuries so I left him off. He could very easily bounce back and be in the same spot as Koster in the future. He could very well be something so I left him in the scratches section.
Free Agent Signings
RESERVE LISTYEARSCAP HIT
3$775,000
3$775,000
3$775,000
Trades
Retained Salary Transactions
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2020
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Logo of the TOR
Logo of the VGK
Logo of the VGK
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the CAR
Logo of the COL
Logo of the SJS
Logo of the STL
Logo of the WPG
2021
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
2022
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
10$81,500,000$9,286,667$0$532,500$72,213,333
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$821,667$821,667
LW, RW
RFA - 4
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$766,667$766,667
C
RFA - 3
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$775,000$775,000
LW, C
RFA
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$810,000$810,000
C
RFA - 4
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$894,167$894,167
LD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$800,000$800,000
G
RFA - 1
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$775,000$775,000
LD
RFA
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$863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$400,000$400K)
RD
RFA - 2
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$775,000$775,000
LD
RFA
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$805,833$805,833 (Performance Bonus$132,500$132K)
G
UFA - 2

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Top Comments

Jun. 4, 2020 at 6:46 p.m.
#1
Kings v5 GM
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Joined: Feb. 2018
Posts: 4,768
Likes: 1,626
I want emil andre and Brendan Brisson so badly. Ryan O'Rourke would be fantastic as well
Random2152 liked this.
Jun. 4, 2020 at 6:53 p.m.
#2
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Joined: Feb. 2020
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I want my boy, Ty Tullio. Oshawa generals and I’ve seen him play. Great playmaker
Jun. 4, 2020 at 6:53 p.m.
#3
GM Hockeysaurus Rex
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Joined: Jul. 2016
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Likes: 5,738
Ehm.. majority of those players are 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounders.
Dan10900 liked this.
Jun. 4, 2020 at 6:59 p.m.
#4
Just Keep Swimming
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Posts: 9,269
Likes: 5,605
Quoting: SammyT_51
Ehm.. majority of those players are 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounders.


Fortunately, the Laws of math dictate that this isn't true. I also want to say that this is very difficult to find 6th and 7th rounders who are interesting sooo...
Is there anyone who you think is egregiously low or are you just ignoring the ^ that I have to indicate that there is virtually no chance they will be available?

Quoting: Mitch1_6
I want my boy, Ty Tullio. Oshawa generals and I’ve seen him play. Great playmaker


From what I've read he is a pesky guy. Would love to have him as a prospect but I am worried he might go earlier than I'd like.

Quoting: Jack_
I want emil andre and Brendan Brisson so badly. Ryan O'Rourke would be fantastic as well


Personally in terms of steals - I want Miettinen. He has played WAY under the radar and is ranked so low by central scouting it doesn't even seem like he is supposed to be drafted. I think whoever gets him might be getting the steal of the draft - if he gets taken.
Jack_ and MitchMarner_16 liked this.
Jun. 4, 2020 at 7:08 p.m.
#5
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Joined: Jan. 2020
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Likes: 5,278
Quoting: Random2152
Personally in terms of steals - I want Miettinen. He has played WAY under the radar and is ranked so low by central scouting it doesn't even seem like he is supposed to be drafted. I think whoever gets him might be getting the steal of the draft - if he gets taken.


I feel the same about Dmitri Ovchinnikov.
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