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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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REGINA, SK – MAY 21: Brandon Saigeon #17 of Hamilton Bulldogs skates against the Swift Current Broncos at Brandt Centre – Evraz Place on May 21, 2018 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
REGINA, SK – MAY 21: Brandon Saigeon #17 of Hamilton Bulldogs skates against the Swift Current Broncos at Brandt Centre – Evraz Place on May 21, 2018 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

1. Brandon Saigeon

This one is a bit of a homer pick. Having watched Brandon Saigeon for the past two seasons, he has only gotten better. He went from a 49-point season in 2016-17 to a 70-point season this year. That came with a 15-goal increase over the season prior. He was then one of the top performers in the OHL Playoffs, finishing second in goals with 18. He also had nine game-winning goals in the regular season, leading the Bulldogs in that category.

Saigeon has actually been passed over in the NHL Draft twice, but is ranked No. 147 in Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t had interest from NHL teams. He attended the Edmonton Oilers’ development and rookie camps last offseason. He even attended the Leafs’ development camp the year before that. The Leafs haven’t been scared of taking players that have been passed over in the past, Adam Brooks being the prime example. As such, it would not be a shock to see him drafted by the Leafs.

Saigeon plays on the wing most of the time, but has seen some time at center. He could potentially even move up to the Marlies next season, even though he has one year of junior eligibility left. At 20 years-old, his development wouldn’t even take that long.

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With the Marlies set to lose Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson to the Leafs, they will need to restore that depth if they want to keep on competing for the Calder Cup. A player like Saigeon can help that next season or the one after. If Saigeon is available when the Leafs are up in the later rounds, it would not be a bad pick at all.

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