Prospect Info: 2023 NHL Draft - Potential Selection Discussion

[Byron Bitz]

Is there a list of which prospects the Leafs interviewed?

 

[hockeywiz542]

NHL mock draft: Kevin Weekes' projections for every first-round pick

There's no surprise who's going No. 1 to the Blackhawks. But who'll get picked after Connor Bedard? Here's our final prediction before this year's event.

www.espn.com

28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)

DOB: 04/25/05 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 190 | Shot: R
GP: 68 | G: 15 | A: 60 | P: 75

We can go on and on about the Leafs. But the biggest thing for them is they have clearly committed to playing a certain style. That certain style is an up-tempo skilled game. They have not had many young defensemen -- especially now that they moved Rasmus Sandin to Washington -- who are in the system. Maybe Dragicevic, who is a skilled point producer, can replace Sandin in that role.

 

[daethfromabove1979]

any rumblings on who we may be interested in?

Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow, Quentin Musty, Gabe Perreault had interviews with the Leafs at the combine. There's definitely more but these are the ones I can find.

 

[Rielly4]

I honestly hope we take a forward. It just feels like D take so much longer and usually end up being just a sheltered bottom pairing D man who we have on the team out of necessity when we would rather have big rugged vets on the bottom pair. Draft a forward and worst case they can be cheap depth scoring in the bottom 6 and it doesnt hurt us.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

I am excited for tomorrow.....

 

[Dion TheFluff]

Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow, Quentin Musty, Gabe Perreault had interviews with the Leafs at the combine. There's definitely more but these are the ones I can find.

seems unlikely any of them outside of Musty will be there when we're picking

 

[RoadWarrior]

Gulyayev is not a defensive liability, at least when you compare him to other offence first dmen available in the late first round. His mobility is near top of the class for defensemen and his gap control is actually quite good. If he was from anywhere other than Russia he’s probably a top 15 pick.

That’s partly true in the sense that he has a high motor and is a great skater but he is from Russia so he’s not a top 15 pick. His defensive awareness is lacking and he’s not separating bigger forwards from pucks.

I see him as a Quinn Hughes type of player but you have to take the good with the bad.

 

[RoadWarrior]

seems unlikely any of them outside of Musty will be there when we're picking

Musty will be gone by 28.

Two guys available might be Sale and Heidt. These are potential top line offensive players. Lardis is a wild card but he has NHL speed. Nadeau has some high end skills. Ethan Gauthier has jam. Safer forward picks would be Edstrom or Wahlberg. On the defensive side Gulyayev, Molendyk, Bonk, Akey, Lindstein should be available. I wouldn’t call any of them safe picks as none are complete D but all are good skaters. Hrabal, Fowler and Gajan are solid goalie picks at 28.

For once there are some good players available at 28.

NHL mock draft: Kevin Weekes' projections for every first-round pick

There's no surprise who's going No. 1 to the Blackhawks. But who'll get picked after Connor Bedard? Here's our final prediction before this year's event.

www.espn.com

28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)

DOB: 04/25/05 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 190 | Shot: R
GP: 68 | G: 15 | A: 60 | P: 75

We can go on and on about the Leafs. But the biggest thing for them is they have clearly committed to playing a certain style. That certain style is an up-tempo skilled game. They have not had many young defensemen -- especially now that they moved Rasmus Sandin to Washington -- who are in the system. Maybe Dragicevic, who is a skilled point producer, can replace Sandin in that role.

Dragicevic is basically another version of Sandin with less physicality. not sure why they would replace one disappointment with another.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Musty will be gone by 28.

Two guys available might be Sale and Heidt. These are potential top line offensive players. Lardis is a wild card but he has NHL speed. Nadeau has some high end skills. Ethan Gauthier has jam. Safer forward picks would be Edstrom or Wahlberg. On the defensive side Gulyayev, Molendyk, Bonk, Akey, Lindstein should be available. I wouldn’t call any of them safe picks as none are complete D but all are good skaters. Hrabal, Fowler and Gajan are solid goalie picks at 28.

For once there are some good players available at 28.


Dragicevic is basically another version of Sandin with less physicality. not sure why they would replace one disappointment with another.

Isn't the thing with Sale is he seems unmotivated / lazy?

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Glad Wes Clark Interview was BPA...

 

[Fonzieleaf]

Isn't the thing with Sale is he seems unmotivated / lazy?

Very inconsistent, but one cannot deny his skill. There are even rumblings that he may now be available at our pick. Could go for him if he's still there.

I like Musty and Heidt as well and would be cool with any of those guys.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Very inconsistent, but one cannot deny his skill. There are even rumblings that he may now be available at our pick. Could go for him if he's still there.

I like Musty and Heidt as well and would be cool with any of those guys.

I don't think Musty is there for us based on everything. Wes Clark said they valued smarts and competitiveness but if Sale is talented but lazy or won't compete...doesn't seem like he'd fit the bill but at the same time...they said BPA at that draft spot.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Leafs' scouting director seeking 'best player available' at draft

Barring trades, the Leafs will pick in the first, fifth and sixth rounds of the 2023 NHL Draft, starting with the first round on Wednesday.

torontosun.com

Nothing has changed for Wes Clark.

The Maple Leafs’ director of amateur scouting has the same draft plan in mind under general manager Brad Treliving that he would have had under Kyle Dubas.

Barring trades, the Leafs will pick in the first round at 28th overall on Wednesday and in the fifth (153rd) and sixth (185th) rounds on Thursday.

“Best player available,” Clark said on Tuesday. “Intelligence, competitiveness, those would be the two main priorities, for sure."

“We’re looking for players that influence winning hockey. Awareness, ability to process, guys who understand that there are other things that influence winning.”

Treliving has not been involved in the Leafs’ draft preparation in accordance with restrictions mandated by his former club, the Calgary Flames. Once the Flames make their pick at 16th overall, Treliving will join the Leafs at the Toronto draft table.

“Trading down (to get more picks) when you are pretty bare seems like the most sensible move at the time,” Clark said of the Leafs’ first-rounder. “We will see how it shakes out.”

Said Treliving: “At some point, you have to put some groceries back in the cupboards. I think there is a fairly good bet we are picking at 28.”

 

[WTFMAN99]

Leafs' scouting director seeking 'best player available' at draft

Barring trades, the Leafs will pick in the first, fifth and sixth rounds of the 2023 NHL Draft, starting with the first round on Wednesday.

torontosun.com

Nothing has changed for Wes Clark.

The Maple Leafs’ director of amateur scouting has the same draft plan in mind under general manager Brad Treliving that he would have had under Kyle Dubas.

Barring trades, the Leafs will pick in the first round at 28th overall on Wednesday and in the fifth (153rd) and sixth (185th) rounds on Thursday.

“Best player available,” Clark said on Tuesday. “Intelligence, competitiveness, those would be the two main priorities, for sure."

“We’re looking for players that influence winning hockey. Awareness, ability to process, guys who understand that there are other things that influence winning.”

Treliving has not been involved in the Leafs’ draft preparation in accordance with restrictions mandated by his former club, the Calgary Flames. Once the Flames make their pick at 16th overall, Treliving will join the Leafs at the Toronto draft table.

“Trading down (to get more picks) when you are pretty bare seems like the most sensible move at the time,” Clark said of the Leafs’ first-rounder. “We will see how it shakes out.”

Said Treliving: “At some point, you have to put some groceries back in the cupboards. I think there is a fairly good bet we are picking at 28.”

Otto Stenberg seems he could be a decent add...mature guy, plays pro, does a lot of everything but maybe the upside isn't there, he's figuring to be a middle 6 guy? That being said....these kids are all 18 and it's a crap shoot as to how things progress.

Maybe something clicks in the next 1-2 years and he's looking like the next Alfredsson or something.

 

[LaPlante94]

Leafs' scouting director seeking 'best player available' at draft

Barring trades, the Leafs will pick in the first, fifth and sixth rounds of the 2023 NHL Draft, starting with the first round on Wednesday.

torontosun.com

Nothing has changed for Wes Clark.

The Maple Leafs’ director of amateur scouting has the same draft plan in mind under general manager Brad Treliving that he would have had under Kyle Dubas.

Barring trades, the Leafs will pick in the first round at 28th overall on Wednesday and in the fifth (153rd) and sixth (185th) rounds on Thursday.

“Best player available,” Clark said on Tuesday. “Intelligence, competitiveness, those would be the two main priorities, for sure."

“We’re looking for players that influence winning hockey. Awareness, ability to process, guys who understand that there are other things that influence winning.”

Treliving has not been involved in the Leafs’ draft preparation in accordance with restrictions mandated by his former club, the Calgary Flames. Once the Flames make their pick at 16th overall, Treliving will join the Leafs at the Toronto draft table.

“Trading down (to get more picks) when you are pretty bare seems like the most sensible move at the time,” Clark said of the Leafs’ first-rounder. “We will see how it shakes out.”

Said Treliving: “At some point, you have to put some groceries back in the cupboards. I think there is a fairly good bet we are picking at 28.”

About time we look for competitive players. You at least know if they don't reach their full potential that they could still possibly be good depth players who could get hot at some random moment during a deep playoff push.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Otto Stenberg seems he could be a decent add...mature guy, plays pro, does a lot of everything but maybe the upside isn't there, he's figuring to be a middle 6 guy? That being said....these kids are all 18 and it's a crap shoot as to how things progress.

Maybe something clicks in the next 1-2 years and he's looking like the next Alfredsson or something.

hated alfredsson as a leaf fan but if he's anything like that gimme.

 

[WTFMAN99]

hated alfredsson as a leaf fan but if he's anything like that gimme.

I don't have first hand knowledge, just read up on him a bit, he sounds like a good player and had decent parts of the season, apparently had an injury at the beginning. LW/C type, maybe he's Alex Steen? That's a good player to land at pick #28.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

I don't have first hand knowledge, just read up on him a bit, he sounds like a good player and had decent parts of the season, apparently had an injury at the beginning. LW/C type, maybe he's Alex Steen? That's a good player to land at pick #28.

We moved on from steen too hastily but if we get that, still a win at #28 for sure,

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Very inconsistent, but one cannot deny his skill. There are even rumblings that he may now be available at our pick. Could go for him if he's still there.

I like Musty and Heidt as well and would be cool with any of those guys.

Sounds k look Ike he’d fit right in with this crew

 

[hockeywiz542]

Leafs might not find great at No. 28, but there will still be useful names to draft

Leafs GM Brad Treliving says it’s a “fairly good bet” the first-round pick won’t be traded.

www.thestar.com

No. 28 as trade bait

Kyle Dubas traded the Leafs’ first-round pick last year to Chicago as a sweetener to take goalie Petr Mrazek off his hands. That worked out well for both teams. The Blackhawks used Mrazek to tank their season. The Leafs got a second-round pick back from Chicago and took Kamloops forward Fraser Minten, now their top prospect (if Matt Knies has become an NHL regular).

Treliving could do something similar if he has a buyer for Matt Murray. Or he could simply move down in the draft, picking up two or three later picks to help fill the prospect basket.

Treliving, by the way, expressed confidence in Murray, acknowledging he would be fine with having three goalies — Murray, Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll — at training camp.

Who to take at No. 28

Scouts can't agree who's going to go second overall, so it seems far-fetched to accurately predict who will be available at No. 28. That doesn't mean folks won't try. Here are some guesses by way of various mock drafts.

ESPN: D Lukas Dragicevic, Tri-City (WHL). Dragicevic is six-foot-one and 190 pounds and had 15 goals and 60 assists. ESPN says he fits the Leafs “uptempo skilled game.” Dragicevic is rated the 18th-best skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting.

NHL.com: LW Andrew Cristall, Kelowna (WHL). He 's five-foot-nine and, the website writes, “mixes high-end skill with an edge … Cristall plays with a chip on his shoulder that comes from constantly hearing about all the things he can't do.” Central Scouting has Cristall 15th among North American skaters.

Sportsnet: RW Nick Lardis, Hamilton (OHL). “A fantastic skater … the best stride of all the forwards in the draft class. He’s a motion player who leans goal scorer.” Lardis is rated 27th in North America by Central Scouting.

The Athletic: RW Ethan Gauthier, Sherbrooke (QMJHL). Gauthier, according to the site, “feels like the one who is most likely for crossover between the Leafs’ scouts and what Treliving may be bringing with him from Calgary.” Gauthier is rated 16th in North America by Central Scouting.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Isn't the thing with Sale is he seems unmotivated / lazy?

He’s lazy defensively. Not in the offensive zone. Sale’s biggest problem is his lack of strength because he’s so skinny. He lacks explosiveness in his skating but his long skating strides still give him some separation once he gets going. Even though he’s 6’2 he can get pushed around physically at least right now .. again because of his slight build.

the thing with Sale are his elite offensive skills. He might be the best shooter not named Bedard in the draft with a lightening quick release. His puck handling and passing skills are nhl quality. His hockey IQ is very high. This is a guy who will feast on the PP at the NHL level.

once he gains strength he could become a more complete player who can dominate in the offensive zone in all situations.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He’s lazy defensively. Not in the offensive zone. Sale’s biggest problem is his lack of strength because he’s so skinny. He lacks explosiveness in his skating but his long skating strides still give him some separation once he gets going. Even though he’s 6’2 he can get pushed around physically at least right now .. again because of his slight build.

the thing with Sale are his elite offensive skills. He might be the best shooter not named Bedard in the draft with a lightening quick release. His puck handling and passing skills are nhl quality. His hockey IQ is very high. This is a guy who will feast on the PP at the NHL level.

once he gains strength he could become a more complete player who can dominate in the offensive zone in all situations.

Curious, have you watched him a lot? Just would love to get perspective from people who've been about to see video or even live some of these guys.

I'm just going by write ups etc on players and the write ups basically just painted a picture of floater / not passionate.

 

[SprDaVE]

About time we look for competitive players. You at least know if they don't reach their full potential that they could still possibly be good depth players who could get hot at some random moment during a deep playoff push.

Minten has both of those and I think it was kind of a meh pick. Passing up on some serious skilled players that were picked later I think will prove to be a bad move.

I just hope there's more upside in their selection. But it's a long process and we'll see. At least they won't pigeon hole themselves into drafting for position.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

i wonder which prospect after 15 will fall.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

I can see us going with Brindley. He seems to check a lot of the boxes out scouting staff like and could be available at our spot.