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5 players Toronto Maple Leafs should target in 2018 NHL Draft

By Jeff Langridge

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: Kyle Dubas Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks on the phone as President Brendan Shanahan looks on during the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: Kyle Dubas Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks on the phone as President Brendan Shanahan looks on during the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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EDMONTON, AB – OCTOBER 29: Goaltender Max Paddock #33 of the Regina Pats skates against the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place on October 29, 2017 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB – OCTOBER 29: Goaltender Max Paddock #33 of the Regina Pats skates against the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place on October 29, 2017 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

2. Max Paddock

While the Leafs should focus on center and defense at this draft, let’s look at some other possibilities. The Leafs have selected goalies in the past two drafts with Joseph Woll in 2016 and Ian Scott in 2017. Woll is still in college and won’t be a part of the Leafs or Marlies for at least another two seasons. Scott played in the WHL this season but is currently up with the Marlies on their Calder Cup run.

The Maple Leafs could very well another goalie to the depth chart given the decisions they have to make with their goaltending this offseason. If that’s the case, why not take the goalie who backstopped the Regina Pats to a somewhat surprising Memorial Cup Final appearance.

Max Paddock split the regular season with teammate Ryan Kubic. He had 19 wins in 33 games in the regular season but missed the Pats’ first-round series against the eventual WHL Champion Swift Current Broncos due to an injury suffered in practice. He returned to play in the Memorial Cup and was a big reason the Pats made it past the Hamilton Bulldogs in the semi-final, stopping 44 of 46 shots.

He then had to withstand a 44-shot performance from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. He managed to stop 41 of them but the Pats were unable to score and the Pats lost at home. Now, Paddock will look to continue his development in the coming seasons having more success than most 18-year old goalies have had. If that success continues, any team that picks him will be more than happy.

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