As it stands right now, the Toronto Maple Leafs have seven draft picks to select the newest instant Torontonian celebrities. The draft order has almost been set with the last two picks, Chicago and Boston, to be decided the moment either Jonathan Toews or Zdeno Chara lifts the cup over his head.
While the Maple Leafs made the playoffs and exited in the first round, their first pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft is the 21st. Their next picks are a 2nd, 3rd, 5th, two 6th round picks (one from the Joffrey Lupul-Jake Gardiner-Francois Beachemin trade) and a 7th.
Now that all the draftees and draft hopefuls have finished their seasons with their respective clubs, their final ranking has been set. Seth Jones topped the list projected to go 1st overall with Nathan MacKinnon sitting close behind in second-overall. If the draft order did not change and every team picked according to the player ranked in correlation with their pick, the Leafs would add four centres, two defenseman, and a winger. That sounds like a pretty solid plan for the Leafs who are in desperate need of some help down the middle, although it would be at least a few years until that help could be pressed into service.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted according to their draft order and the prospects final rankings, they would be proud to select:
1st round, 21st overall from The Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, centre Jimmy Lodge.
Birthdate: March 5, 1995
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6′ / 165 lbs
From Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Lodge was drafted in the third round, 62nd overall by the Saginaw Spirit in 2011 OHL Priority Selection. In two seasons for the Spirit, Lodge has played 109 games, scored 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points. In the 2013 playoffs Lodge scored 1 goal with 2 assist for 3 points in 4 games.
2nd round, 51st overall from The Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, defenseman Gustav Olofsson.
Birthdate: December 1, 1994
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2″ / 190 lbs
From Boras, Sweden, Olofsson was drafted 29th overall in the second round of the USHL entry draft in 2011 by the Gamblers. In two season with the Gamblers, Olofsson has played 66 games for a total of 2 goals and 22 assists for 24 points. In his 2011-12 season with the U18 Colorado Thunderbirds he played 38 games totalling 30 points to become a USHL Clark Cup Champion.
3rd round, 82nd overall from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, centre Curtis Valk.
Birthdate: February 8, 1993
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’7″ / 130 lbs
From Medicine Hat, Alberta, Valk is small as you might have already noticed but has become a huge contributor to his team in his four seasons with the Tigers. From 2009-2013 Valk has played 198 games, scored 78 goals and 85 assist for 163 points which is a 0.82 point per game pace. He has been just as effective in 3 playoff runs with the Tigers scoring 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 31 playoff games.
5th round, 142 overall from the University of Michigan in the CCHA, centre Andrew Copp.
Birthdate: July 8, 1994
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0″ / 188 lbs
From Ann Arbour, Michigan, Copp played 40 games for the U.S. National Development Team from 2010-12. In those games he scored 4 goals and 11 assists for a total of 15 points. He joined the University of Michigan in 2012-13 playing 38 games for 21 total points.
6th round, 172 overall from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, defenseman Jerret Smith.
Birthdate: April 21, 1995
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’2″ / 198 lbw
From Surrey, British Columbia, Smith has played a total of 71 games in his first season with the Thunderbirds for a total of 20 points on 1 goal and 19 assists. At the tender age of 18, Smith has quite a large physique. At his age he has at least 3 more years to fill out to a monstrous sized defenseman to be feared by all. It could be a good 6th round chance pick, only if for his size.
6th round, 177th overall from the University of Maine in the H-East left winger Ryan Lomberg.
Birthdate: December 9, 1994
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’9″ / 180 lbs
From Richmond Hill, Ontario, Lomberg previously played in the 2011-12 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. In 52 games for the Lumberjacks he scored 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points. He also had 154 penalty minutes and a plus-23 rating. Attending the University of Maine through the 2012-13 season, Lomberg scored 7 goals and 7 assists in 32 games for 14 points along with 42 penalty minutes.
7th round, 202 overall from the Ohio Blue Jackets in the MWEHL right wing/centre Kiefer Sherwood.
Birthdate: March 31, 1995
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’9″ / 154 lbs
From New Albany, Ohio Sherwood was drafted in the 7th round 99th overall of the USHL entry draft by the Youngstown Phantoms in 2012. From 2010-12, he played for the Ohio Blue Jackets U16 team plying 77 games for 74 points. Sherwood has committed to play the 2013-14 season at Bowling Green State University in the NCAA. Last season for the Phantoms he tallied 2 points in 9 games.