NHL Mock Draft Pick #25 – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are cashing in on the Kris Versteeg trade with this pick that originally belonged to the Philadelphia Flyers.  As I mentioned yesterday, the Leafs are in need of help in a variety of positions, but most notably a number one, playmaking centre.  They will not get immediate help with this pick, but they can add a potential contributor down the road.

Picking for the Maple Leafs is Myles, Editor of Editor In Leaf.

With the 25th pick in the draft, the Leafs select Boone Jenner, Center (OHL’s Oshawa Generals)

Myles from Editor in Leaf sends along these comments:

This pick won’t fill the Leafs’ need for a number one center, but it’s already clear that void won’t be filled from Toronto’s current position in the draft. Jenner is known more for his two-way play than his high-end scoring talent, but scouts haven’t had many negative things to say about him. Toronto could certainly use some added depth down the middle in their system, and if either Colborne or Kadri (who’s probably destined for NHL duty on the wing) can develop into a top line talent, Jenner could be the 2nd or 3rd line center of the future. He’s already got NHL size (at the ripe old age of 17) at 6’1, 196 lbs. There’s the usual talk about his skating ability, but given a few more years under the proper coaching that should take care of itself, especially considering the work ethic that seems to have impressed so many scouts. He’s got toughness to go with his talent, scoring at just under a point per game pace (44 goals, 71 assists) in his first two OHL seasons, while tallying 148 penalty minutes in 128 games. NHL.com’s Chris Edwards noted “The phrase, ‘I want 20 of those guys on my team,’ gets overused, but it not only applies to Boone, he can be the poster boy for it. Boone does what it takes to win. He blocks shots, wins battles along the boards and is an outstanding forechecker. He wants to be first to the puck every time. He’s solid on his skates and fights through checks on his way to the net.” Sounds like a more-talented Tim Brent if you ask me. These are the kinds of players the Leafs need to fill their team out with if they want to be successful long-term, and you can never have too many good Canadian boys on your team in my book.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Here are the Mock Draft results so far (click on the team name to go to the post about that pick):

Now on the clock for the #26 selection, is the Washington Capitals.

PREVIEWING THE CAPITALS

2010-2011 Record: 48-23-11  (2nd Overall)

League Rankings:
Goals for:  19th

Goals Against: 4th

Power Play: 16th

Penalty Kill:  2nd

TOP 5 Prospects in the system: Evgeny Kuznetsov (RW), Braden Holtby (G), Dmitri Orlov (D), Mathieu Perreault (C), Cody Eakin (C)

NEEDS: The Washington Capitals had a renewed emphasis on defence in 2010-11, and it worked in the regular season, as despite an off season (by his standards) from Alex Ovechkin, Washington still managed first seed in the Eastern Conference.  However, it was the same old story as the Caps managed to defeat the Rangers, but were swept by the fifth seeded Lightning in the second round.  With a good young core of players, it seems like only a matter of time before they break through, and perhaps the player they get with this 26th pick will be a piece of that puzzle.  There are no glaring deficiencies in the Capitals system, so the old adage of “take the best player available” applies here.

TOP 5 PLAYERS ON THE BOARD (per ISS):

1.  JT Miller, LW, USA Under-18 (USHL)

2.  Connor Murphy, D, USA Under-18 (USHL)

3.  Alexandr Khokhlachev, F, Windsor (OHL)

4. Victor Rask, C, Leksands (SWE ELITE)

5. David Musil, D, Vancouver (WHL)

Check back on TOO MANY MEN ON THE SITE  on Tuesday evening to see who “Capitals Outsider” selects  on behalf of the Capitals, as the Fansided mock draft continues!