Sure – but Johnston was drafted 23rd – noting that the Leafs since 2021 held the 25th, 25th, 25th, 23rd (traded down) and will have the 25th spot again this year. As we’ve noted, they haven’t done a good job of getting value for their 1st round picks that they’ve traded, but they have seemingly found some value in their later picks – Danford, Cowan, Minten, Hildeby, Grebenkin, Knies – maybe even Akhtyamov all have NHL potential – that’s largely since 2021. Setting aside the tragedy with Amirov, the 2020 draft was disappointing – to have made 12 picks and have none of them turn out (save maybe Akhtyamov) is terrible.
This all being said – the guy we hired to be our new Director of Amateur Scouting, Mark Leach, comes from Dallas. -monkeypunk
Sorry but I don’t see enough value in the Leafs picks considering how little impact they’ve had on the ice for the Leafs. And I’m looking at the picks made as far back as 2016. Most of them have been traded for rentals, sure, but nothing that has actually created legit depth or helped win playoff games and series.
Maybe I’m missing something but in total I see Knies and Woll for the Leafs…and J. Robertson, Hintz, Harley, Oettinger and Johnston for the Stars as non-lottery legit contributing players. Mason Marchment is a direct example of a steal as well.
From 2016 until 2025, the Leafs should have at least 2 or 3 more guys who are direct impact players today. That’s basically landing one legit impact guy every two drafts. I don’t think that’s asking too much. And yet, the Leafs have seemingly never been able to do it. The Leafs seem to get one every five drafts.
I’m glad they have at least one person from Dallas working on the team but we won’t be sure he’s the guy who was really the biggest brain behind the operation until many years down the road. Unfortunately, the people in charge the past 10-12 years clearly didn’t get enough hits to make a difference when we need it the most; right now.
I still maintain that if this Leafs team had it’s top 10 lottery picks as the core and the correct 1st/2nd round pick depth picks behind them, this team would be right in the conversation of Stanley Cup contenders instead of throwing away it’s leading point producer and trying to replace him with old, overpaid, spare parts as a piss poor excuse for patch work depth.