Leafs Draft Preview: A Note on Goalers

Ahead of this afternoon’s draft, we’ve been looking at some of the players that may be possible first round draft targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Not one of them a goaltender.

There’s several good reasons for this. Most significantly, there’s only a goaltender or two expected to go in the first round. Then there’s the fact that during Dave Morrison’s tenure as top scout, the Leafs have drafted only three goaltenders in seven drafts. 

Still, who’s to say a goalie isn’t 21st on the Leafs’ draft rankings? Or 10th? Or 1st? (I mean really, would you put something that silly past them?) 

At the top of the draft-eligible goalies list sits names like Halifax’s Zachary Fucale, Tri-City’s Eric Comrie and Edmonton’s Tristan Jarry, which will likely cost the team who drafts them a first or second round pick. The Leafs likely don’t need to be targeting any of these players with their first round pick, unless of course they are BPA.

That being said, this actually wouldn’t be the worst year for the Leafs to take a goaltender with practically any pick other than their first. Yes, they have two young starters(?) at the NHL level in James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier, but there’s a lot to be said about having a goaltender pipeline flush with talent.

The youngest of the Leafs organization goaltenders, Garret Sparks, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 Draft, and is only 20 years old. This coming season, he’s eligible to turn pro, meaning the Leafs may not have a goaltender playing at the junior level. 

In the interest of keeping the cupboard stocked, it may be time to draft another goaler.

One name that some seem to have forgotten is Mississauga’s Spencer Martin, who’s up-and-down season dropped him out of first round consideration. The 6’2, 192lb Oakville-native appeared in 61 games for the struggling Steelheads, winning 19 of them and sporting a 3.24 GAA with a relatively good .901 SV%.

The USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks have two goaltenders eligible for this year’s draft in Calvin Petersen and Eamon McAdam. 

Petersen played 35 games this past season, going 21-11-1 with a 2.97 GAA and a .906 SV%. The 6’1, 175lb goaltender is committed to playing for the University of Notre Dame after one more year in the USHL next season.

McAdam is a neat story, as he’ll be on his way to Penn State University after his USHL career, a school joining NCAA’s Big-10 next year. Over 31 games for Waterloo, the 6’2, 185lb McAdam went 17-9-0 with a 3.45 GAA and an .896 SV%.

Philippe Desrosier had a strong rookie season for the Rimouski Oceanic, appearing in 43 games with a 3.07 GAA and a .900 SV%. The 6’1, 187lb goaltender can likely be had for a mid-round pick.

This years crop of goaltenders doesn’t have a European standout like Andrei Vasilevski last year. The closest would be HPK Jr.’s Juuse Saros, who sported a 1.86 GAA and a .933 Sv% in 37 games played. Despite his impressive stat line, his U-18 World Championship Bronze Medal, and his Best Goaltender of the Tournament award, Saros’s 5’9, 161lb frame will likely scare a few teams off.

 

That’s it for the previews. Be sure to check back here plenty this afternoon, as The Leafs Nation will have full draft coverage.