In an offseason full of uncertainty with the big club, the Toronto Maple Leafs played it safe at the NHL Draft, perhaps too safe depending on who you ask. Toronto traded down to select Oshawa Generals defenseman Ben Danford 31st overall, a defensive defenseman that fills a positional need. Toronto continued to fill up their need for defense, taking multiple big, defensively responsible prospects, although the lack of upside led some to mute their excitement.

In the current Leafs roster, many questions are still unanswered: the status of Mitch Marner, for instance, who appears poised to head into a contract year still unsigned and unlikely to be traded if he is still in Toronto by opening night. Also uncertain is the status of Nick Robertson, who reportedly requested a trade from the Leafs for more playing time. As It stands, Robertson will open the year in Toronto. In one certain change, the Leafs named Auston Matthews as captain, taking over from John Tavares, who was reportedly supportive of the decision. The move raised eyebrows over the sudden change, but signals that it is officially #34’s team as of now.

With Robertson still a Leaf, it remains the question if either Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan can grab a roster spot for Toronto that still has a lack of availability. From now until the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still a team with a lot left to figure out.

NHL Draft

Round One, 31st Overall – Ben Danford, RHD (Oshawa – OHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs went with a safe pick, selecting Ben Danford from the Oshawa Generals with the 31st pick after trading down from 23. It’s no secret the Leafs were incredibly thin on the defensive end and lacked an impact prospect in the pipeline. Danford is probably Toronto’s top defensive prospect now, although Topi Niemela and Noah Chadwick come close.

Danford is a highly intelligent defenseman with strong composure and defensive awareness. He’s a hard worker who consistently showcases his intensity night in and night out. The move may be more filling a position of need rather than going with the most upside, but Danford’s reliable game feels like it has the easy projection of a potential second pairing defenseman, especially if he can add more of an offensive punch to his game.

Round Four, 120th Overall – Victor Johansson, LHD (Leksands – SWE-Jr.)

I’ll admit, I had no idea who Victor Johansson was when he was drafted in the fourth round, which instantly felt like a concern because I had watched and logged hundreds of draft eligibles through the year. Not only had I not watched Johansson, I had no familiarity with him at all. Seeing his stats and player profile made it quickly clear why I had failed to pay attention to him. Johansson had just two goals and eight points in 34 games played. This is understandable for a physical defender, which Johansson somewhat is, but at the same time Johansson is only 160lbs. Some other sources have him around 145-150, but either way a very skinny player. The stats don’t instill confidence but Ottawa did take an even lower point producer in Gabriel Eliasson in round two. He’s physically engaging with some decent puck movement, but a major unpolished project. Either way, it feels like a reach at round four, this is someone you take a flier on late.

Round Five, 151st Overall – Miroslav Holinka, C

Perhaps the most interesting pick made in this draft by Toronto. You could even say Holinka the best value Toronto got out of all their picks based on where they were taken. Holinka is a smart two-way Center who has a lot of creativity and puckhandling skill on offense, but can also play as a pressing defender while looking like someone who can stick down the middle. He’ll move to the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings, where I’d expect Holinka’s maturity and craftiness to translate to North American ice quite well. His upside isn’t the highest, perhaps middle-six at best with right now Holinka looking like a 3C, but that’s not bad value in Round 5, I would’ve been happy with him at Toronto’s prior pick (120).

Round Five, 152nd – Alexander Plesovskikh, LW (Yugra-RUS-Jr.)

Although familiar as a sturdy, physical player with good size, Plesovskikh also has strong skating and a decent puck game to boost. He didn’t always get things going this season, which likely impacted his stock with some, but the raw tools are interesting, and he’s one of the younger players from this past draft class. His upside isn’t super high, but he’s more upside and floor while already being big and mobile.

Round Five, 157th Overall – Timofei Obvintsev, G (CSKA – RUS-Jr.)

The Toronto Maple Leafs just love themselves those Russian overage Goalies. I took names of players who I felt fit that sort of mold Toronto has been targeting, and Obvintsev placed third. (Behind Maxim Arefyev who came from Kazan, the same club as Artur Akhtyamov and Slava Peksa, and also Nikita Podlyagin who I had an affinity for). Obvintsev is an athletic goalie with good technique. He’s consistent and mature, and could be an NHL backup in the future if all goes right, although he joins a crowded Toronto goalie pipeline.

Round Seven, 200th Overall – Matthew Lahey, LHD (Nanaimo, BCHL)

Lahey is a defensive defenseman who doesn’t light up the scoresheet but has a good physical game. He is hardworking but doesn’t produce much offense, which is a bit worrisome given he’s in Jr. A hockey, and not the CHL. He has a strong and powerful defensive game, really good at utilizing his body to create plays, but does have the IQ to execute without being physical. Although he was traded in the BCHL to Coquitlam, Lahey will spend next season in the USHL for Fargo before heading to the NCAA with Clarkson.

Round Seven, 216th Overall – Sam McCue, LW (Owen Sound, OHL)

McCue was quietly a very solid goalscorer this past season, netting 23 goals in 68 games for Peterborough & Owen Sound. McCue is a good two-way forward who has good scoring vision but can also deliver good defensive plays, both thanks to a good hockey sense. He’s hardworking and has shown his game can be taken up a level, and might just be the case for next season.

Round Seven, 225th – Nathan Mayes, LHD (Spokane, WHL)

Toronto ends the 2024 NHL Draft on a familiar theme, physicality. Mayes is similar to Lahey in being a big, powerful defenseman who’s lack of offense makes him a bit lower on upside. Like Lahey, the upside isn’t high for Mayes, who similarly has a strong defensive game but will need a bit of offense to put him over the top. Can’t complain much with how a team spends the last pick in the draft.

Development Camp

I can’t help being a bit disappointed that the Leafs didn’t draft German winger Veit Oswald, who the team invited to development camp. The 19-year-old had a very strong pro season in the DEL with Munich, having 10 goals and 17 points in 38 games. He’s an electric puckhandler with good skating and defensive IQ. Someone I would think Toronto considers circling back to as a prospect if he can replicate similar results for 2024-25. Although he’s eligible again next year, he’s a fun player who coaches have raved about his attitude for the game. 

Toronto also invited an interesting prospect in Jack Brauti, fitting the team’s liking of defensive defensemen. Although his upside isn’t quite high, he looked well on defense, offense not so much, although that’s been his game in the OHL too. He could be a pro even if it’s not in the NHL.

Ryan McCleary gained an AHL deal after development camp after his physicality stood out. Should be a decent power presence in the Marlies bottom-six.

Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Anthony Stolarz (G) signed a two-year contract

Chris Tanev (D) signed a six-year contract

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) signed a four-year contract

Dakota Mermis (D) signed a one-year contract

Philippe Myers (D) signed a one-year contract

Cédric Paré (F) signed a one-year, two-way contract

Outgoing

Ilya Samsonov, UFA (Vegas)

Tyler Bertuzzi, UFA (Chicago)

TJ Brodie, UFA (Chicago)

Ilya Lyubushkin, UFA (Dallas)

Joel Edmundson, UFA (Los Angeles)

Noah Gregor, UFA (Ottawa)

Maxime Lajoie, UFA (Seattle)

Dylan Gambrell, UFA (Columbus)

Extensions

Max Domi re-signed to a four-year contract extension

Timothy Liljegren re-signed to a two-year contract extension

Joseph Woll re-signed to a three-year contract extension

Matt Murray re-signed to a one-year contract extension

Final Thoughts

This draft felt very familiar. In the late 90s and 2000s, where size was all the rage, this would’ve been seen as a more promising and smart draft. In an age where offense and talent rule the game, however, some of these picks feel a bit more of a head-scratcher. I’m far from a proponent of the popular “NHLe” measure of using PTS/league factors, but Points have played a bit of a factor in determining outlook. I’ve said this before, but one important thing you need to succeed in the NHL is standing out against your age group, and even as a defensive player, the points should still somewhat reflect that you stand out. It’ll take a while to determine the impact of this draft class, but seeing the NHL’s shift away from size and physicality as a necessity, the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone a bit backwards, for better or worse.

For the main team, it seems about as close to win-now as it’s been in the “core-four” era. If the Leafs are to run it back with Mitch Marner, it needs to come with something to show for it. Everything is different now, there’s a new Head Coach, a second year GM, and plenty of new faces. Anything less than the cup finals will likely feel like not good enough, especially if someone ends up walking. You can’t just question the leading guys, the rest of the team will have to step up as well. The bottom-six will need to be productive on offense, and Joseph Woll needs to prove he can take the full reigns as a #1 goalie. Everything needs to go right for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25, and if not, it’ll be another year of dismantling, with it’s window closer to it’s end.

Thanks for reading!