As the Leafs were nearing the end of the draft, they headed into the sixth round and there was still talent on the board, but to even out the forward/defense ratio, which was currently at 4 forwards and 3 defenseman, they selected defenseman Stephen Desrocher from the Oshawa Generals of the OHL with the 155th pick. As a member of the Memorial Cup-Winning Generals, he already had something to chalk up on his resume for scouts and general managers around the league. That being said, not many Leafs fans might know who Desrocher is, so let's take a look.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Desrocher grew up playing AAA Minor Midget Hockey for the Missisauga Rebels and then playing Midget for the Vaughan Kings. Desrocher appeared in 43 games in his first season with the Generals and recorded 8 points, and then in his second season recorded 23 points in 66 games. In his most recent playoff run with the Gens, he would record 7 points in 16 games in the postseason, and then go on to get 3 points in 4 games in the Memorial Cup. As stated earlier, having a Memorial Cup victory on your resume always looks attractive to GM's around the NHL, but what motivated Leafs management to take a chance on Desrocher?
The first thing you'll notice about Desrocher is that he's a big guy. Standing tall at 6'4 and 198lb, he's a player that's hard to miss on the ice. He's earned the reputation of a defensive defenseman, but that hasn't stopped him from pitching in offensively. He has a very hard shot and isn't afraid to jump into the slot to create offensive oppertunities. He has a very long reach and plays a very in-your-face type of game.
NHL ETA: 2019-20
Given Desrocher's playing style, mixed with the Leafs' new approach at developing prospects, it's no secret that they're more than likely going to give Desrocher at least three seasons with the Toronto Marlies to prepare for a full NHL job. Defensemen, particularly defensive defensemen, take longer to develop into quality NHLers so the Leafs will likely be in no rush to give Desrocher a starting job.
Player Comparable: Jake Muzzin
Jake Muzzin is usually known as the defensive partner of all-star defenseman Drew Doughty on the 2014 cup winning Los Angeles Kings, but Muzzin is still a great player who has a tendency to play a strong defensive game, but at the same time he can chip in offensively at times and support his team when needed, much like Desrocher.
Potential Ceiling: Bottom Pairing Defensive Defenseman
It's hard to tell at this point if Desrocher will be a bust or if he'll blossom into a quality NHL defenseman, but a safe prediction for him would be a no.5 or no.6 bottom pairing defenseman who shuts down scorers on the opposition, which is something the Leafs could use in a couple of years if they're looking to contend for the playoffs.
What do you think of the selection of Desrocher, Leafs fans? Weigh in below.
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