Something is missing in this Leaf draft. As some folks have already noted: the Leafs traded down then selected a player that was probably ranked as much as 15 picks lower from his projected draft position.

Has anyone heard an explanation of the Leaf's reasoning for the move?

My best guess is the Leafs have an offer on Marner that includes top prospects that would make their own pick from last night make sense.

I would also think that any delay on a Marner trade (if it is happening) has something to do with the bidding for Stamkos.

Does Utah offer Stamkos the money it would theoretically cost them to resign Marner?

And, sometimes, strange events are nothing more than what they appear to be. Maybe this is the guy the Leafs believe offers the physical blue line presence that every team seems to want.

Interesting the Sens did something very similar selecting a big physical RD over multiple players ranked higher in the predraft projections.
- spatso

There's no great mystery. This is their guy and they got an additional asset being comfortable they would get him at 31 and not being comfortable that he would last through to 120 when their original only next pick was. I guess they could have picked him at 23 and NOT get a free asset, but hey, that would just be for the lolz.

I’m sure you would have done better but Leafs first picks over the past 5 years haven’t been bad.

Cowan - 28
Minten - 38
Knies - 57
Amirov - 15
Robertson - 53
- Canada Cup

I know nothing but what I read but from what we know we should be expecting that Wes Clark is going to pick someone that disappoints us every year because we read the pre-draft rankings and lock in on our favs and he always goes off his own script. It's worked out pretty well so far for him since 19'.

Read this morning that Danford was voted best defensive d'man in the OHL and that he's described as a more skilful Chris Tanev. We'll see but you put that together with the fact that he's a right handed dman ...seems that should be good news for the system.

All that said I'm certain whoever he picks at 58 will be disappointing as well.

I know nothing but what I read but from what we know we should be expecting that Wes Clark is going to pick someone that disappoints us every year because we read the pre-draft rankings and lock in on our favs and he always goes off his own script. It's worked out pretty well so far for him since 19'.

Read this morning that Danford was voted best defensive d'man in the OHL and that he's described as a more skilful Chris Tanev. We'll see but you put that together with the fact that he's a right handed dman ...seems that should be good news for the system.

All that said I'm certain whoever he picks at 58 will be disappointing as well.
- The Law

C’mon Lawsie, you need more bananas. Everyone knows Leaf management is dumb. How can these guys see a Tanev Plus when everyone else see’s a Michael Koster.

C’mon Lawsie, you need more bananas. Everyone knows Leaf management is dumb. How can these guys see a Tanev Plus when everyone else see’s a Michael Koster.
- Woderwick

The best bananas are the Savannah Bananas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAiBzAkeKUE

C’mon Lawsie, you need more bananas. Everyone knows Leaf management is dumb. How can these guys see a Tanev Plus when everyone else see’s a Michael Koster.
- Woderwick

This has been the least-banana'y week ever.

The best bananas are the Savannah Bananas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAiBzAkeKUE
- Canada Cup

That’s bananas.

This has been the least-banana'y week ever.
- The Law

I know, right?

Still time though.

Gotta give them the benefit of the doubt,.. If they really wanted Emery they would have taken him and not traded back. They may have had him on the list but were not sold on him. Or maybe the guy they wanted went early and Danforth was the guy that they wanted next.
- Azuredoom

They guy they wanted did go early... #23 Solberg....

They guy they wanted did go early... #23 Solberg....

- dozerD10

I’ma Sol Berg
Dada da da, da dit it.
I’ma Sooooooul Berg
Da’t da dah da dut.

I know nothing but what I read but from what we know we should be expecting that Wes Clark is going to pick someone that disappoints us every year because we read the pre-draft rankings and lock in on our favs and he always goes off his own script. It's worked out pretty well so far for him since 19'.

Read this morning that Danford was voted best defensive d'man in the OHL and that he's described as a more skilful Chris Tanev. We'll see but you put that together with the fact that he's a right handed dman ...seems that should be good news for the system.

All that said I'm certain whoever he picks at 58 will be disappointing as well.
- The Law

I think it's a good pick. And they get another decent pick out of the deal.

Plus, the Leafs drafting for a position of need just did not happen with Kyle Dubas.

Amazing indeed!

Mitchy’s heart must be broken.

I hope his therapy involves hitting the weight room.

LeBrun notes that the Vancouver Canucks have offered Zadorov a contract that is worth $5 million annually in order to keep him in Vancouver but the 6-foot-6 left-shot defenceman elected to test free agency.

"[The Canucks] came in late and they went as high as $5 million AAV," said LeBrun. "So, it would make a lot of sense that he can get that [on the open market]. Can he get it from the Maple Leafs? I'm told there are 10 teams with considerable interest in Zadorov and the Maple Leafs are among them. They like him for a lot of different reasons and there's history with Treliving, but it comes down to a cap situation for Toronto."

That's a lot of loot for Zadorov. Tanev and Zadorov for 5-6 each coming our way?

A few points of reference for Ben Danford for #LeafsForever fans:

In a 9-1 loss in the OHL finals for the Generals, Danford was 1-0-1 and +1.

One of, if not the best, defensive defenceman in the OHL (at 17).

Can play in all situations on both ends of the ice.

LeBrun notes that the Vancouver Canucks have offered Zadorov a contract that is worth $5 million annually in order to keep him in Vancouver but the 6-foot-6 left-shot defenceman elected to test free agency.

"
- The Law[The Canucks] came in late and they went as high as $5 million AAV," said LeBrun. "So, it would make a lot of sense that he can get that [on the open market]. Can he get it from the Maple Leafs? I'm told there are 10 teams with considerable interest in Zadorov and the Maple Leafs are among them. They like him for a lot of different reasons and there's history with Treliving, but it comes down to a cap situation for Toronto."

That's a lot of loot for Zadorov. Tanev and Zadorov for 5-6 each coming our way?

As Leafs, they’ll both get JT’d in no time.

LeBrun notes that the Vancouver Canucks have offered Zadorov a contract that is worth $5 million annually in order to keep him in Vancouver but the 6-foot-6 left-shot defenceman elected to test free agency.

"
- The Law[The Canucks] came in late and they went as high as $5 million AAV," said LeBrun. "So, it would make a lot of sense that he can get that [on the open market]. Can he get it from the Maple Leafs? I'm told there are 10 teams with considerable interest in Zadorov and the Maple Leafs are among them. They like him for a lot of different reasons and there's history with Treliving, but it comes down to a cap situation for Toronto."

That's a lot of loot for Zadorov. Tanev and Zadorov for 5-6 each coming our way?

There is no way the Leafs should be paying Zadorov 5M to patrol the blueline.

- Horsey Sauce

If I were the guy in the white shirt, I'd encourage the other guy to to through a right at my head.
The way he makes a fist, he's more likely to break his hand.

They guy they wanted did go early... #23 Solberg....

- dozerD10

🙁


Should’ve taken Silayev or Demidov at 3 though

There is no way the Leafs should be paying Zadorov 5M to patrol the blueline.
- mjones242

Can't say I'm a fan of it but if adding dmen is the priority I'm not sure how many real options they'll have.

Sounds like Pesce is zero'd in on playing close to home - NY area. LA's pushing for Roy - and paying him 5+. Montour and Skjei ....7+?

So the choice might be overpay for Z and/or Tanev or "run it back" with a sub-par blue line.

Maybe they can get in on Marino?

Can't say I'm a fan of it but if adding dmen is the priority I'm not sure how many real options they'll have.

Sounds like Pesce is zero'd in on playing close to home - NY area. LA's pushing for Roy - and paying him 5+. Montour and Skjei ....7+?

So the choice might be overpay for Z and/or Tanev or "run it back" with a sub-par blue line.

Maybe they can get in on Marino?
- The Law

Throw in Duper and Clayton too

There is no way the Leafs should be paying Zadorov 5M to patrol the blueline.
- mjones242

Correct

It will be 5.75m
👍

Throw in Duper and Clayton too
- mr.sir

What's a clayton and a duper?

🙁


Should’ve taken Silayev or Demidov at 3 though
- mr.sir

It at first glance seems to be ... I will cut Verbeek some slack here...

but yeah seems we could have traded back to 6 or 7 and gotten him there and perhaps added another early 2nd.

Verbeek likes his guys though and scouted him in person quite a bit... Seems his playoff performance was the difference maker. 10G - 22pts in 16 games...

Am surprised the big Ruskie dropped to 10 though.

Throw in Duper and Clayton too
- mr.sir

Cracks me up when discussing wideouts now and how they are so good and such... if the same rules applied those 2 would have had 5K yds EACH per yr...

What's a clayton and a duper?
- The Law

https://youtu.be/PS8un4piLNA?si=sPn4mPQCViThVDTs

I thought you were older…..

Correct

It will be 5.75m
👍
- mr.sir

Very hard pass.