Post by Toronto Maple Leafs on Jul 13, 2015 19:20:11 GMT -5
Toronto GM Kevin Lomas entered the 2015-16 entry draft with a plan to get as many draft picks as possible, and make his team very young in order to build for the future. At one point as many as 4 first round picks came and went while he started the build. It also seemed like he was determined to rid himself of all past prospects with the aim of building his own squad. By sending away some past prospects combined with a first round pick he was able to land one of his favorite prospects in the entire league in Teuvo Teravainen. There are far too many other trades to go over but we can have a look at who he actually drafted, and have a look at why.
Pick #43 Filip Chlapik - F - Charlottetown
Chlapik set Charlottetown Islanders franchise records in rookie goals (33) and points (75) in 64 games, in his first turn on North American ice. He finished third among QMJHL rookies in scoring, thanks to a great start that saw him notch his first goal in game No. 2 and kick off a five-game point streak.
Pegged to be taken somewhere in the middle of the first round, Lomas couldnt pass him up at #43. At 6'1" and 200 lbs without ever lig=fting a weight until this season, we should see him mature into a fine NHL size forward with skill to burn. With a strong two way game already he being compare to a higher scoring David Krejci.
Pick #47 - Jordan Greenway - F - USNDP U-18
Greenway is an absolute monster. Already standing 6'5" and over 220 lbs with some skill he looks to have all the tools to be the protypical power forward that every team covets. He was a little shy of a point per game with the U-18 team, but if you look a little further into his background you will find a student athlete that went to the famous Shattuck-St.Mary's school and scored 188 points in 106 games in his final two years. He also represented the USA at the WHC-17, scoring 5 pts in 6 games, and the WHC-18 scoring 7 pts in 7 games.
From NHL.com : "I'm 6-foot-5 so I guess I'm a power forward, right," Greenway said. "I've got some pretty good skill and I like to drive the net a lot, can usually come out of the corners with the puck and can create more space for the skilled guys on the team."
Greenway, an A-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for the draft, is a potential first-round pick for the 2015 NHL Draft. Jordan, who will attend Boston University in the fall of 2015.
"He doesn't have any idea how big, strong and athletic he is," USNTDP U-18 coach Don Granato said. "It'll be a process for him but that's what you drool over. He's got athletic ability, size and strength, and his potential is really high."
Pick #63 Blake Speers - F - Soo Greyhounds
Lomas went a little off the board with this pick. Although Speers had good numbers (67 pts in 57 games) he is a little small (5'11") and has inconsistant stages. What was attractive though was the fact that only a few years back Speers scored 142 goals and 146 assists 288pts in 96 games so he has elite skills built in. He followed that up with 113 pts in 61 games playing the next level up, then scored 107 pts in his first 119 OHL games. If that is inconsistant he could turn out to be a real gem...maybe.
“A solid two-way winger…elite level speed with a very efficient skating stride…good lateral agility…lacks strength and can get knocked off the puck by bigger opponents…handles the puck well and has some deceptively good hands…makes crisp, accurate passes to teammates…has a decent shot…does all the little things to succeed…can kill penalties, work the power play, lead the rush or bring a strong forecheck…has good leadership qualities and possesses the intangibles that make pro aspirations a possibility in his future.
Pick #68 - Jesper Lindgren - D - MODO
Lomas liked this kid from the start of the draft and thought he would get grabbed much higher up the board. "I really couldnt wait any longer, I think this kid is gonna be great"
A steady climber throughout the year, Jesper Lindgren is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He played a handful of games this season in the SHL with Modo Hockey, but the majority was spent with Modo’s J20 team, where he shined. Playing in 39 games for the club, Lindgren amassed six goals and 27 assists as a 17-year old.
The Umea-native loves to carry the puck. He can slow the game down when he has control and is deadly accurate with his passing. Lindgren skating is his best feature, and although not always the fastest on the ice, he has such fluid control with his skates to leave opponents flat-footed. His defensive game isn’t poor by any stretch, but could use some polishing.Yet another skilled defenseman from Sweden, Jesper Lindgren will add a scoring blueliner to one lucky NHL team’s pipeline.
from a scout report; "Possible first round sleeper who has come out of nowhere with eye-popping skating, skills and swashbuckling offensive skills. An aggressive offensive player you will jump up in pinches and fake defenders to him and place the puck to an opponent or simply freeze the defender and blow on by. Incredibly cool and confident, with legs and moves that sometimes don’t work, but cause defenders to think about what they might encounter on the next touch. He has elusive puck control that isn’t going to ever stay back if he has an inkling he can make a play. His feet let him get back when the puck is turned over in transition. A bold gunslinger who needs to get stronger, bigger and continue to progress. Displays Karlsson-like attributes and seems on a quick developmental track to the first round if there is a team looking willing to take the chance to watch him progress.“
Pick #73 Martins Dzierkals - F - Latvia
This pick was about having faith in the real Leaf program. Dzierkals was a real mystery but the Leafs are very high on this guy so Lomas took a chance.
Dzierkals, a Latvian native, plays in the Russian junior league, where he posted 28 points in 32 games. He put up nine points in six games for Team Latvia at the WJC u18s
Kyle Dubas quote ; “We saw him at the u18 tournament. Statistically, you see him there, and he was outstanding in the games that I personally saw. He’s a guy that Thommie Bergman and Garth Malarchuk both really liked a lot on our scouting staff. We all went and watched him in the relegation games and he was really, really good; got video on him. He’s a very fast, skilled player. His family is very big, so it looks like a guy that’s going to grow a little bit, get a lot stronger. Statistically, in Latvia – and it’s not a traditional market to be taking a lot of guys from, they’re developing more and more players – but his production level in the junior league there was off the charts. It just kind of all added together. We knew there were a lot of other teams circling, we had to pick him there. We got those extra picks by moving down and picked him up.
Pick #74 Adin Hill - G - Portland Winterhawks
Adin Hill was a rookie for the Hawks program but he came in and won the starters job on a very solid team. He then proceeded to finish at 31-11-1 with a WHL leading SV% (.921) and a GAA of 2.81. Standing 6'4" tall he has the size people like for an NHL starter and already has the inside track as the best goalie prospect in the Coyotes system. Looking at who is ahead of him he will get lots of opportiunity to take over as their starter before too long.
Seeing as goalies are so hard to predict as far as when they will be NHL ready we may have to be patient with this kid.
Pick #80 - Not selected yet. Will Lomas go with BPA or will he go off the board once again?
We should know in a few days.
