2015 NHL Draft Guide for Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2015 draft with a chance to make a much-needed turnaround.

The team made a bold move by hiring Mike Babcock as the head coach, but it will be up to top executive Brendan Shanahan, interim general manager Kyle Dubas and director of player personnel Mark Hunter to give the coach some players to work with.

The franchise is ready for a lengthy rebuild, and from this draft on, the team can start doing things the right way. With that in mind, here is a 2015 draft guide for the Maple Leafs.

Projected Lineup and Depth Chart

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The Leafs have the following roster players signed to a contract, according to 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

Projected Lineup

James van Riemsdyk—Nazem Kadri—Phil Kessel
Brendan Leipsic—Peter Holland—Richard Panik
Leo Komarov—Casey Bailey— Connor Brown
Josh Leivo—Sam Carrick—[UFA Signing]

Jake Gardiner—Dion Phaneuf
Roman Polak—Morgan Rielly
Stephane Robidas—Stuart Percy

Jonathan Bernier
James Reimer

Recent Draft History

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Top Players Drafted in Last Five Years

2014: William Nylander, No. 8 overall from MODO (Sweden)

2013: Frederik Gauthier, No. 21 overall from Rimouski (QMJHL)

2012: Morgan Rielly, No. 5 overall from Moose Jaw (WHL)

2011: Stuart Percy, No. 25 overall from Mississauga (OHL)

2010: Sam Carrick, No. 144 overall from Brampton (OHL)

The Maple Leafs have not done a terrific job of drafting over the last five years; Morgan Rielly and William Nylander are the lone bright spots among 30 total picks. The franchise has had a number of down seasons, but the team was never bad enough to land a pick within the top three.

This year the Leafs will pick No. 4 overall, and it gives them a chance to take an exceptional player.

Prospect Pool

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William Nylander

Top Prospects

1. William Nylander: Nylander is an offensive center with major upside who was brought to the AHL during the middle of the season. He had an immediate impact with the Marlies and finished with 14 goals and 32 points in only 37 games.

2. Brendan Leipsic: The Leafs acquired Leipsic in a trade with the Nashville Predators, and the 21-year-old is a talented forward who should be on the roster next season. He finished the season with 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points in 74 games at the AHL level.

3. Stuart Percy: The Leafs called up Percy for nine games in 2014-15, and the 22-year-old defender showed that he has some future upside. He should be a regular on the blue line in 2015-16 and has the potential to be a top-four defender for the franchise going forward.

Team Needs

Going into the draft, the Maple Leafs have a couple of items on their shopping list, and they can address them by using or trading their draft picks. With that in mind, here are their biggest needs and potential fits based on the picks they have in their possession.

1. Top-Six Center

The Leafs lack a true top center outside of Nazem Kadri, and with the No. 4 overall pick they can certainly grab one of a few players to grow into that role. 

Potential Fits: Dylan Strome or Mitch Marner.

2. Scoring Winger

The Maple Leafs' top goal-scoring wingers are James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel, and the team could benefit by adding another one. The Leafs have thought about trading Kessel, but according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, the asking price is too high.

If the Leafs deal Kessel, they should try to add a less-than-comparable forward via trade and trade down for a winger instead of a taking center early.

Potential Fits: Mikko Rantanen

Overall Outlook

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The Maple Leafs have some uncertainty heading into the season, and it is partly because there isn't a defined direction for the 2015-16 campaign. The Leafs could decide to make this a year in which they seek to be a lottery team, or they can try to be as formidable as possible under Mike Babcock.

The direction will be clear soon, and if Toronto trades Phil Kessel and company, it will be a sign that the new team will be torn down to the studs. The 2015 draft gives Toronto a major opportunity, and it is one the brain trust of Brendan Shanahan, Kyle Dubas, Mark Hunter and Babcock will take advantage of.

Draft pick history via Hockey-Reference. Stats via NHL.com, Elite Prospects and General Fanager unless otherwise noted.