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The Toronto Maple Leafs benefited from a run on forwards at the top of the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago and selected swift skating defenseman Timothy Liljegren with their first round pick.
The 18-year-old native of Kristianstad, Sweden was considered a top-five talent entering last season due to his skating and playmaking ability, but a bout of mononucleosis and playing for four teams at various levels in Sweden adversely affected his season and prevented the blueliner from making Team Sweden for the 2017 World Junior.
“We really liked Timothy, we believe his skill. He was up and down this year, but he had a bad case of mono.” Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter said on Friday. “He’s a ‘new NHL’ kind of defenseman, who can move up and down the ice at a high pace and make plays out of our own end very quickly.”
After Miro Heiskanien and Cale Makar were picked 3rd and 4th overall, nine straight forwards were selected before defenseman started dropping off the draft board. Tampa Bay chose Callan Foote at #14, Erik Brannstrom went to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights at #15 and Boston went with Finn Juuso Valimaki at #16.
"I'm an offensive defenseman, (who) likes to skate with the puck and be on the offensive blueline, shoot pucks and (score) points.” Liljegren said.
The Leafs will formulate a future plan for Liljegren after their rookie orientation next month, but it is expected that the blueliner will return to Sweden for another season in the SHL and to play in the 2018 World Junior in Buffalo.
"I will battle (for a spot), but I think I need one more year in Sweden…..and then I want to play in the NHL." Liljegren said.
"(The World Juniors are) a big goal for me, I wanted to be there last year but mono stopped me"
With their second round pick (#59th overall), Toronto selected 6’6” defenseman Eemeli Rasanen of the Kingston Frontenacs.
Rasanen played for Finland in the Under 18’s and came to North America last season, scoring 39 points (six goals and 33 assists) in 66 games for Kingston. He compares his game to countryman Rasmus Ristolainen of the Buffalo Sabres and likes to play an aggressive style, but indicated that he needs to work on his skating over the next couple years.
HockeyProspect.com ranked Rasanen 53rd and says:
He has potential to be a top four defenseman at the NHL level. He has shown good adjustment to the North American game and has shown steady progress throughout the year. He still has his flaws and is still growing into his size.
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Toronto did not have a third round pick due to compensation for Mike Babcock, but had two picks in the fourth round.
At 110th overall, the Leafs selected goalie Ian Scott of the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. A native of Calgary, the 18-year-old is 6'3", 178 lb. and played for Canada at the Under-18's last season.
HockeyProspect.com says of Scott:
Scott is fluid in his net for a big goaltender. His movements in his crease are crisp and refined and he moves laterally quickly. He does not tend to over-commit or get caught sprawling around the net and his game is structured.
With their other fourth, Toronto went the overage route selecting 19-year-old Russian center Vladislav Kara.
Kara played last season with Ibris Kazan in the second level MHL.
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In the fifth, the Leafs picked their third defenseman of the draft and went big once again with Fedor Gordeev of the OHL's Flint Firebirds. Gordeev is 6'6", 209 lb. and split time between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Firebirds last season, scoring 13 points (3 goals and 10 assists) in 62 games.
HockeyProspect.com says of Gordeev:
For a 6'6" defender, he skates fairly well. He protects the puck well and is very difficult to take the puck from when he's protecting and moving his feet. He is a bit of a work in progress defensively.
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In the sixth round, the Leafs chose Sarnia forward Ryan McGregor at 172nd overall. The 18-year-old Burlington, ON native had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in his second OHL season with the Sting.
HockeyProspect.com on McGregor -
Ryan is a strong skater and handles the puck well on the rush. He has good hands at speed and has the ability to gain the offensive zone and set up for opportunities. Despite his speed and puck skills, if defenders caught him, he's was too easy to knock off the puck.
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The Leafs final pick (203rd overall) was defenseman Ryan O'Connell. The 6'0", 150 lb blueliner played two years at St. Andrews College and is committed to playing with the Pentiction Vees of the BCHL next season and Boston University in 2018-19.
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