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2018 NHL mock draft: Post-NHL draft lottery

By Derek Grochowski

PLYMOUTH, MI - FEBRUARY 16: Andrei Svechnikov #7 of the Russian Nationals controls the puck in front of Jack Hughes #43 of the USA Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 16, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. USA defeated Russia 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Andrei Svechnikov; Jack Hughes
PLYMOUTH, MI - FEBRUARY 16: Andrei Svechnikov #7 of the Russian Nationals controls the puck in front of Jack Hughes #43 of the USA Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 16, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. USA defeated Russia 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Andrei Svechnikov; Jack Hughes /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 12: Ryan Merkley #6 of the Guelph Storm turns up ice against the Mississauga Steelheads during game action at Hershey Centre on October 12, 2016 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.( Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 12: Ryan Merkley #6 of the Guelph Storm turns up ice against the Mississauga Steelheads during game action at Hershey Centre on October 12, 2016 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.( Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /

25. Toronto Maple Leafs: D Ryan Merkley  

When people look back at this draft, Ryan Merkley will be one of the biggest stories. He is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft. Earlier in the season, Merkley was a fringe top 10 draft prospect. If you look at his stats the numbers jump off the page. 67 points in 63 games for a defenseman in the OHL is impressive. Even more impressive is he was on one of the worst teams in the OHL to make the playoffs. Even though Team Canada had a disappointing U18 tournament, Merkley picked up three points in five games.

The only reason that Merkley fell out of the top 10 is he is not good defensively. He is a great skater, passer and dynamic on the rush. So many times this season he got himself out of position and hurt his team. If he can develop a better defensive game and make smarter decisions he will be a dynamic playmaker in the NHL. Unfortunately, if he cannot figure it out he will never hit his full potential and struggle to stay in the lineup. The perfect example is T.J. Brennan, a high-end point scorer in the AHL who struggles to make a consistent impact in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are deep on defense already but they should continue to add a young defenseman. Prospects like Travis Dermott, Timothy Liljegren and Andreas Borgman will be the next wave of Toronto Maple Leafs defensemen. As those players grow and replace veterans like Ron Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev and Connor Carrick the Leafs will need to reload. The future of Jake Gardiner is questionable after this year’s playoffs so there may be even another hole to fill.

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