Leafs Draft Tyler Biggs 22nd, Stuart Percy 25th

The Toronto Maple Leafs spent the first day of the draft on a couple of solid if unspectacular draft picks. They did make a move to grab a player that they coveted in the bruising Tyler Biggs in the 22nd slot from the US National Team Development Program. The Leafs moved the 30th (from Boston) and 39th (their own) seleciton to Anaheim for the right to pick Biggs. Reports suggest that either Pittsbugh or Detroit were intent on selecting Biggs and Detroit’s trade out of the first round immediately following the selection lends some anecdotal credence to the theory. Biggs’ comparables during the draft telecast – for what it’s worth it would be interesting to see how these compare a few years down the line – were Colby Armstrong and Milan Lucic. The former is kind of depressing but the latter is positively mouth watering. While the Leafs have certainly made strides in getting tougher to play against

They then used the pick they received from Philadelphia in the Kris Versteeg trade to draft defenceman Stuart Percy from the Mississauga St. Mike’s Majors of the OHL. Percy is a lifelong Leafs fan that grew up in Oakville and played all of his minor hockey in the GTA. He sports the number five because he wants to model his game after Nik Lidstrom’s. He was a player that many saw as possibly being chosen with the Leafs’ 30th overall pick but the Leafs were higher on him after a strong playoff run.

Below is audio captured by Chris Dilks of Western College Hockey Blog and after the jump are videos of the two newest Maple Leafs.

Brian Burke Audio File 

 

Stuart Percy has Toronto Maple Leafs wallpaper, posters, and Tie Domi, Mats Sundin, and Dougie Gilmour jerseys. Oh and he talks about his time with the Majors in terms of his playing partners and being coached by Dave Cameron. He’s smart, well spoken, and I’m sure killed it in his interviews if this anecdote is anything to go by.

Tyler Biggs discusses his time with the NTDP and the fact that he likes to model his game after Milan Lucic. He is currently committed to Miami of Ohio which was Brendan Burke’s alma mater. The reason he chose the school was because he felt that the team’s headed in the right direction and plays a run and gun style which fits his style of play. As with Percy, the Leafs were and still are his favourite team. It’ll probably make him feel old when he hears it but Biggs named Dion Phaneuf as his favourite Leaf.