Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2016 draft: The final results

7 years ago

Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY SPORTS

The Toronto Maple Leafs completed rounds 2 through 7 of the 2016 NHL Entry draft today, selecting seven forwards, three defencemen, and a goaltender in a draft that has people scratching their heads just a little.

Clicking a player’s name will bring you to their individual selection profile.

Rd	#	From	Pos	Player	Team	League	Age	Height	Weight
1	1	USA	C	Auston Matthews	ZSC Lions	NLA	18	6’2	216
2	31	RUS	RW	Yegor Korshkov	Lokomotiv Yarloslavl	KHL	19	6’3	179
2	57	SWE	LW	Carl Grundstrom	MODO Hockey	SHL	18	6’0	194
3	62	USA	G	Joseph Woll	US National U18	USDP	17	6’3	196
3	72	USA	D	JD Greenway	US National U18	USDP	18	6’4	205
4	92	CAN	C	Adam Brooks	Regina Pats	WHL	20	5’10	174
4	101	CAN	D	Keaton Middleton	Saginaw Spirit	OHL	18	6’5	234
5	122	RUS	LW	Vladimir Bobylyov	Victoria Royals	WHL	19	6’2	205
6	152	USA	LW	Jack Walker	Victoria Royals	WHL	19	5’11	179
6	179	CAN	D	Nicolas Mattinen	London Knights	OHL	18	6’4	220
7	182	RUS	F	Nikolai Chebykin	MVD Balashikha	MHL	18	6’3	209

At first glance, this draft looks interesting for a few reasons. There’s the emphasis on American (a rising development nation) and Russian (historically undervalued) talent. There’s the emphasis on height (eight players at least 6’2). There’s a significant amount of Draft+1 or Draft+2 talent, and a lot of players that can play for their European team, in the NCAA, or in the AHL/ECHL next season.

It doesn’t fit the public analytics narrative, but it fits the “old school” mentality even less. When you look at a second day like this, you have to think that the scouting department and the research and development team are up to something interesting. The question now, however, is are they on to something?

Given the circumstances, it may take some time for us to find out. For now, though, it’s certainly a headscratcher.

Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2016 draft: The final results

Check out these posts...