NHL Draft 2014: Toronto Maple Leafs draft grade
With the eighth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected one of the top-ranked European skaters in the draft in the left winger William Nylander.
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Nylander was the eighth ranked player in the final FanSided NHL Draft big board. He’s a player who started in the high teens before eventually moving into the top 10 after I was able to really sit down and watch his game film. Nylander is one of the most offensively gifted players in this draft class, but he’s more of a “me first” type of player rather than someone who’s comfortable in trusting his teammates.
He’s only 169 lbs, which means he’ll have to add on a bit of muscle before he’s ready to deal with the grind of a full 82-game season. However, at 18, he obviously has plenty of time to bulk up before becoming a full-time member of the Maple Leafs roster.
I’m not positive this was the best pick the Maple Leafs could’ve made. I feel that he is the type of player the Maple Leafs need to get away from, the finesse scorer. Instead, I feel the pick should’ve been used on a bigger-bodied player that can become a major presence in front of the net.
Final Grade: B
Sound off Maple Leaf fans! What do you think of Toronto’s first pick? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.