Leafs prospects you followed closely who became absolutely nothing

[Tak7]

Justin Pogge.

 

[kerk]

Wouldn't know a weight room if it walked up and hit him on the head. That was all pure natural skill. Not much of a work ethic off the ice though. His brother had a promising future, but severed tendon in his ankle by a skate (maybe achilles?) derailed his career with Phily.

eric wellwood is actually the head coach of the growlers

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Every single goalie we have drafted or signed.

 

[Cams]

eric wellwood is actually the head coach of the growlers

Thanks for the info...I never realized that. He was a good 2 way forward back in junior.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

A lot leaf fans should be posting this:

"Josh Leivo"

Q: Why aren't they posting it?
A: Not very honest. Somewhat righteous.

 

[dubplatepressure]

If by hotdogging you mean baconator-ing, you'd be correct.

Friendly PSA - the player who holds the NHL ironman record was famous for his pre-game meal of a bowl of cheese, and doesn't believe in stretching.

 

[Gallagbi]

Brandon Convery jumps to mind, but following him was a lot different then and I was alot younger (just a kid then)

 

[fahad203]

Hands down Justin Pogge. Dude was killing WHL, wjc and was a sure thing

The fact that he didn't even play a single NHL game is just mind boggling let alone have an NHL star

 

[TheProspector]

Jeremy Williams -Leafs never really gave him a chance.

Yeah, we all remember your love for Jeremy Williams. And Kyle Wellwood!

 

[4thline]

Keaton Middleton. Kid was defensive monster and difference maker in the O.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Literally everyone in the 2015 draft.

And I always held out hope for Keaton Middleton. Without a hint of irony, what I want for Christmas is more fridge prospects. PLEASE DUBAS, USE YOUR DRAFTING WIZARDRY TO GET US A 6'4 DEFENSEMAN.

I was absolutely convinced our 2015 draft was legendary. I remember bragging about it to friends. Still shocked at how so many of those guys didn't make it.

 

[X66]

Bracco for sure, and I think if another team drafted him it may have happened.

Carter Ashton, we didn’t draft him but I feel he had all the tools to be an awesome energy player.

 

[Wendelstache]

Finn, Frattin, Percy, Tyler Biggs, etc.

Yep, we all bought the Burke Koolaid.
Worst thing that happen to this franschise, far worse than JFJ.

 

[Apex Predator]

Was it poor drafting or poor development with the leafs after they got drafted?

 

[Clark4Ever]

Brandon Convery

 

[4thline]

Yep, we all bought the Burke Koolaid.
Worst thing that happen to this franschise, far worse than JFJ.

The 2009 and 2011 drafts are just a gut punch in retrospect.

2009 had picks 50, 58, 69 - nothing
2011 had picks 25,30, 39 - nothing

It's not like we could expect to hit on every pick, but to whiff that bad

 

[LeafChief]

Someone above brought up Keith Aulie. I was convinced he was going to be very, very good.

 

[Menzinger]

Someone above brought up Keith Aulie. I was convinced he was going to be very, very good.

Burke always hyped him up in the media (say what you will about the guy, but he was a fantastic salesman).

I remember also being excited about him too. Crazy in retrospect he played a bunch of games on the top pairing considering what would become of him

 

[Ianturnedbull]

My room mate in University used to hype up Rob Pearson. "Supposed to be the new Cam Neely".

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Both goalies - both fooled me.

Peter Ing
Justin Pogge

Yeah Pogge was a massive disappointment. I didn't follow his Jr. career, so it's not like I expected a lot. I did think it was good that JFJ drafted 2 goalies...

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I first came to hfboards to get the scoop on Luca Caputi

He fooled us on the Pens board as well. Hoped he'd be the next Ryan Malone, but ended up being the next Erik Tangradi instead.

Also a shit coach in the OHL.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

Aubin, Perreault, Ashby(RIP)
Ouch 1989 3 x 1st Rdrrs: Thornton, Pearson, Bancroft...what a waste.
Alas other then Sundin, Guerin and Koenig that was a horrible 1st rd.

 

[al secord]

He had a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg.

 

[smitty10]

Hands down Justin Pogge. Dude was killing WHL, wjc and was a sure thing

The fact that he didn't even play a single NHL game is just mind boggling let alone have an NHL star

Pogge played a few games. I remember his 1st NHL game vs Atlanta. Played less than 10 games though, IIRC.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Eric Fichaud. First ever first round pick I witnessed with the Leafs, who was tagged as a Felix Potvin clone out of what was then a goalie factory in Chicoutimi of the QMJHL. Absolute hero in the Memorial Cup in 1994.

View attachment 623664

Fichaud is my choice as well and immediately came to mind.

I was super stoked knowing we had a 23-year old stud in Potvin and a recently drafted, highly touted 18-year old Fichaud. Thought the Leafs goaltending was going to be in great hands for two decades with that tandem.

Too bad it never materialized because Fichaud was abruptly traded. His career didn't amount to much when traded to the Islanders, and then cobbled a cup of coffee in a few other stops.