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2018 NHL Draft: Toronto Maple Leafs full seven-round mock draft

By Jeremy Lambert

ST CATHARINES, ON - NOVEMBER 25: Ryan McLeod #91 of the Mississauga Steelheads skates during an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre on November 25, 2017 in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
ST CATHARINES, ON - NOVEMBER 25: Ryan McLeod #91 of the Mississauga Steelheads skates during an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre on November 25, 2017 in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Niklas Nordgren #15 of the Finland Nationals follows the play against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. Russia defeated Finland 4-0. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Niklas Nordgren
PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Niklas Nordgren #15 of the Finland Nationals follows the play against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. Russia defeated Finland 4-0. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Niklas Nordgren /

Third Round – No. 83: Niklas Nordgren (W)

This pick comes courtesy of the Sharks via the James Reimer trade. The Maple Leafs usually shy away from grabbing Finnish prospects. They’ve taken just one player from Finland in the last two years. Of course, that happened to be last season when they grabbed Eemeli Rasanen in the second round. They’ve done well when it comes to Finnish prospects. Along with Rasanen, they selected Tuukka Rask in the first round and Leo Komarov in the sixth round. Komarov remains a solid contributor for a sixth round pick and Rask…well, I won’t rub that one in.

Nordgren contributed 42 points in 28 games in the Jr. A SM-Liiga league in Finland last season. At the World Junior Championships, he led the tournament with eight goals. He’s a pure goal-scorer, but there are size and skating concerns. He plays a straight-forward style and will need to improve his defensive game. The Leafs may not need another right winger, but if his scoring translates, they could have Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews.

Fourth Round – No. 118: Jack St. Ivany (D)

The last time Toronto didn’t select a US-born player in the draft (2013), they selected three US-born players the next year. That probably won’t happen this year, but it’s tough to imagine the Leafs not grabbing a American in 2018 after passing on them in 2017.

St. Ivany had 36 points in 54 games in the USHL last year and has already committed to Yale for 2018-19. He was ranked 119 in Central Scoutings final report. He’s a solid two-way player who makes an accurate first pass. He’s an overage returnee and could be a diamond in the rough for the right team.

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