Best Fits for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a total of eight picks in the upcoming draft, and the brain trust of head of hockey operations Brendan Shanahan, acting general manager Kyle Dubas and head coach Mike Babcock will use them to start turning the franchise around.

The Maple Leafs were one of the worst teams in the NHL last year, but they have the potential to load up the farm system in a draft that is one of the deepest since the megadraft of 2003. There are a number of needs that the team should address early on, so let's take a look at some of the best fits for the Maple Leafs going forward.

General Team Needs, Roster Breakdown

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Players Signed for Upcoming Season via General Fanager

Forwards

• Centers: Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, Casey Bailey and Peter Holland
• Left Wingers: Joffrey Lupul and James van Riemsdyk
• Right Wingers: Phil Kessel

Defense

• Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Stephane Robidas, Roman Polak, Morgan Rielly and TJ Brennan

Goaltending

• James Reimer

Biggest Needs to Address via Draft

1) Top-six center: Nazem Kadri has shown some promise early on, but the Leafs could use another center who is offensive-minded. Tyler Bozak is better suited for third-line duty, and playing him in that role would give the Leafs depth in the lineup

2) Scoring winger: Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk can only do so much, and adding a dynamic winger should be a priority. The Leafs were easily shut down when the duo was kept in check, and for that reason drafting a winger with upside would be smart.

3) Top-four defenseman: Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner and Dion Phaneuf are notable defenders who should be counted on next season, and then there is a drop in talent. There are a number of talented defenders available, and the Leafs should use one of the first-round picks on a blueliner with upside.

Round 1, No. 4 Overall: Mitch Marner

Mitch Marner would be a great fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 4 because he is an elite forward with huge upside. He tallied 126 points this season with the London Knights, and the 5'11", 160-pound center has drawn some similarities to Patrick Kane.

Craig Button of TSN had the following description of Marner, and the description sums up what the Leafs need:

"

Excellent playmaker who can make plays in and through the tightest of spaces. Very elusive with his skating but can attack & beat defenders 1-1. Sees plays unfolding and is very comfortable holding puck to allow them to develop. Plays with an assuredness that is threatening and he doesn't take a 'back seat' in the game.

"

With three of Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin and Dylan Strome to likely be off the board by the time No. 4 comes around, taking Marner should be a no-brainer.

Round 1, No. 24 Overall: Oliver Kylington

The Leafs could use a talented defender with upside, and Oliver Kylington could be a steal of a pick. The Farjestad rearguard stands 6'0" and weighs 181 pounds, and he is a smooth skater with serious skill.

Goran Stubb is the NHL Director of European Scouting, and he had this report on the 2015 draft prospect:

"

He's an offensive defenseman with excellent vision and playmaking skills. He has very good eye-to-hand coordination, is dangerous on the power play. He has all the tools needed and is a finesse-type player.

"

Toronto could really use another blue-chip defensive prospect in the system, and by the time Kylington is ready for NHL duty the Leafs will be in a position to contend. This is a situation where it makes sense to take a good player who is a little raw, and it would be foolhardy to pass on Kylington if he's still available at No. 24 overall.

Round 3, No. 65 Overall: Nikita Korostelev

The Maple Leafs could stand to bolster their offensive strength on the wing, and Nikita Korostelev could be picked in the third round. The 6'1", 195-pound right winger played for the Sarnia Sting and was ranked No. 50 by NHL Central Scouting.

In a total of 60 games played, the Sting right wing tallied 25 goals and 31 assists. Korostelev is a creative playmaker with nice hands, but he needs to improve his skating and defense. His offensive talent makes him a player worthy of going in the late first to early second round, but other elements of his game are why he is projected to be a late pick.

He is worth the risk in the third round, and he is a pick who could pay off in a few years when Toronto is contending.

Late-Round Targets

1) Dmytro Timashov: The Quebec Remparts forward is projected to be a fourth-round pick, but he has some upside. The 5'10", 187-pound winger was ranked No. 92 by NHL Central Scouting and finished the season with 71 assists and 90 points. He tallied 18 points during the playoffs, including four points in five games during the Memorial Cup.

2) Joe Cecconi: The Leafs could opt to add another defender late in the draft, and Cecconi has the tools to suggest he could be a quality player. He was a member of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, and some of his biggest strengths included a booming point shot and passing ability. He is a project prospect committed to the University of Michigan for 2015-16, and playing for legendary coach Red Berenson could help him round out his game.

3) Robin Kovacs: Toronto could stand to add some talented two-way players with offensive upside, and they could get lucky in the fourth or fifth round. Kovacs played in Sweden for AIK, and he finished the season with 17 goals and 28 points. Future Considerations broke down his game, and overall he is a speedy skater who is tenacious with the puck, and equally aggressive on the forecheck. The big knock on him is his temperament, and that has led to stupid penalties on occasion. Overall, he has some skill and is one of the better players who should be available in the draft.

List of draft picks via Draftsite.com, and stats and rankings via NHL.com and Elite Prospects unless otherwise noted.