Pick by pick: Leafs dig nine deep
FIRST ROUND Rasmus Sandin (29th) Left defence, Soo Greyhounds With 12 goals and 45 points in 51 games for the Greyhounds, he’s a high-skill creator on the back end that personifies how Leafs GM Kyle Dubas likes to see the position played.
SECOND ROUND Sean Durzi (52nd) Right defence, Owen Sound Attack A Mississauga-bred lifelong Leafs fan who grew up admiring fellow second-round pick Bryan McCabe, Toronto can only hope he plays in a fraction of McCabe’s career 1,135 games.
THIRD ROUND Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (76th) Centre, Peterborough Petes A fan of Mitch Marner known to Petes fans as SDA might currently lack explosiveness to go with his nifty skills. But as the youngest player in the draft — he doesn’t turn 18 until Sept. 15 — he’s got time to hit the gym. Riley Stotts (83rd) Centre, Calgary Hitmen Toronto’s western scouts were high on the centreman, even though he posted three points in his first 22 games with Swift Current before a trade to Calgary ignited his production.
FOURTH ROUND Mac Hollowell (118th) Right defence, Soo Greyhounds Dubas spoke Friday of the advantage he holds in the Soo, where the GM’s ties presumably provide insider information on players. Same goes here.
FIFTH ROUND Filip Kral (149th) Left defence, Spokane Chiefs Leafs western scouting director Tim Speltz was Spokane’s GM until 2016. He’d know Kral better than most.
SIXTH ROUND Pontus Holmberg (156th) Left wing, Vaxjo Lakers (SHL) A19-year-old pick who played just two games in the Swedish league, scouts say his hockey IQ could be worth a sixth-round flyer.
SEVENTH ROUND Zachary Bouthillier (209th) Goalie, Chicoutimi Sagueneens Had an unremarkable .894 save percentage in the Quebec league this past season. Semyon Kizimov (211th) Right wing, Ladia Togliatti A left-shooting Russian winger taken with an eye to the future.