In the world of hockey, draft picks can make or break a team’s future. The Toronto Maple Leafs, known for their storied history and passionate fan base, have had their fair share of both great and not-so-great draft picks over the years. In a previous article, we explored some of the best picks made by the Maple Leafs. Now, it’s time to take a deep dive into the worst draft picks the team has made since 2005.
These players, once seen as potential stars, unfortunately did not live up to the hype and expectations placed upon them when they were drafted. Some of them were chosen over future elite players, leaving Maple Leafs fans wondering what could have been.
One such player is Jiri Tlusty, selected as the 13th pick in the 2006 draft. Not only did Tlusty fail to make a significant impact offensively, but he was also chosen ahead of players like Claude Giroux, who went on to achieve great success in the NHL. Giroux, now with over 1,000 games and points to his name, has had a stellar career that Leafs fans can only dream about.
Moving on to the 2011 draft, we have Tyler Biggs, who never saw any NHL ice time in his career. Despite playing for the Oshawa Generals and the Toronto Marlies, Biggs struggled to make an impact on the ice. His lackluster performance ultimately led to his departure from the Maple Leafs organization, leaving many to label him as one of the team’s worst draft picks in history.
Stuart Percy, drafted two picks after Biggs in 2011, fared slightly better by at least earning some NHL games with the Maple Leafs. However, his time in the NHL was short-lived, and he spent the majority of his career in the AHL, bouncing between different teams along the way.
Looking back at the 2011 draft, it’s evident that the Maple Leafs missed out on some talented players. While Nikita Kucherov slipped past many teams before being selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Anaheim Ducks were able to nab players like Rickard Rakell, John Gibson, and William Karlsson shortly after Toronto’s picks. This draft may have played a role in the eventual departure of then-general manager Brian Burke, whose decisions left much to be desired in hindsight.
In conclusion, the Maple Leafs’ history of draft picks since 2005 has been a mixed bag of successes and failures. While some players have gone on to achieve greatness, others have fallen short of expectations, leaving fans with a sense of what could have been. The draft is a crucial aspect of a team’s success, and the Maple Leafs will have to learn from their past mistakes in order to secure a bright future for the franchise.