Jonathan Bernier Deserves One More Chance

 

By Alex Hobson

I can almost guarantee that if you're the typical Leafs fan that watched the majority of their games last season, then you're thinking "You're an idiot. Trade him as soon as you can". I know you're thinking that because that was what almost every Leaf fan was thinking last season. But hear me out.

If you don't already know what I'm talking about, I'm talking about the 2015-16 scapegoat in Jonathan Bernier. 

LAST SEASON

Bernier was known for his absolutely abysmal performance to start the season last year. He had the worst start of his career by far, posting a record of 0-8-3 and didn't get his first win until December 19th against the Los Angeles Kings, his former season. Meanwhile, fellow goaltender James Reimer was experiencing the best start of his career, in which he was leading the league in save percentage for a while. Bernier ended up getting injured, which saw prospect Garret Sparks earn a callup, and then go on to record a shutout in his first game. This led all fans to believe that Sparks and Reimer was the tandem to go with, and that Bernier needed to be shipped as far away as possible.

He eventually did so bad that he was assigned to the Toronto Marlies on a ten day conditioning stint to clean up his act and fix his mental stability. After he joined the team again, his play slowly, but steadily improved. He began to look like himself again, and finally recorded his first win, a shutout, against the Los Angeles Kings on December 19th. Eventually, his play was back to normal. Not great (but really was anyone on the team doing great at that point?), but better than he was at the start.

On February 26th, James Reimer was traded to the San Jose Sharks, which left Bernier and Sparks manning the crease. Bernier realized that now was his time to prove that he could play better than he did at the beginning of the year, and he did just that.

By the end of season, Bernier had played 11 games since the deadline in which he posted a record of 5-6-0 with a GAA of 2.36 and a save percentage of .925, which are very respectable numbers for a goalie backstopping a team who's team was filled with a mix between rookies and underperforming veterans.

A LOOK AT SOME STATS

By now, you're probably thinking "yeah, so he finished the season decently. So what? He's still a terrible goalie". And to that I say no, he had a terrible start. Let's take a look at Bernier's stats in the two seasons before this one.

2013-14: 26-19-7, 2.68 GAA, .923 save percentage

2014-15: 21-28-7, 2.87 GAA, .912 save percentage

He had a good 2013-14 season, and an average 2014-15 season. Bernier's only really neccessarily bad season was this year, and the majority of it came at the start.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT SEASON?

As of now, next season's Leafs team is already looking miles better than last year's. Not only will our top prospects who have already shown that they can play such as William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, Zach Hyman, and Connor Carrick likely be full timers, but top prospect Mitch Marner and presumed first overall pick Auston Matthews will also likely become Leafs come fall. Throw in the possibility of Steven Stamkos coming home and youngsters like Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly stepping into bigger roles, and you've got yourself a Leafs team that will be much more competitive than last year's.

Here is Bernier's fate. He's currently in the final season of a two year contract, and assuming Shanny and Co. don't go out in free agency and sign a goalie who is equal or better than Bernier, he will have the crease to himself, likely with Garret Sparks backing him up. He seems to do better when there isn't somebody challenging him, so this is how it works.

If Bernier redeems himself and plays like he did two years ago with a better team in front of him and the net to himself, then he could re sign to a short term deal until either one of our goaltender prospects in Sparks, Antoine Bibeau, Kasimir Kaskisuo, or somebody in the draft develops, or if we trade for or sign somebody else. However, if he repeats last season, then he's gone. There will be no reason to keep him around if he plays like he did last season.

The point to be taken from this article is that Bernier deserves one more chance. Fans are already calling for his head, but he's proven he can be a reliable starter in the past, and it's entirely possible he repeats that this upcoming season. Leafs fans should give him one more chance to redeem himself and support him along the way.

Thanks for reading.

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 44th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 45th overall, highlighted, by Ryan Spooner and Jeff Petry. There are now 44 days until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 44th overall.

2006 - Nikolai Kulemin, LW (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Kulemin was drafted as a solid two way forward with a knack for scoring goals, which should be attractive to most teams. Kulemin's career season was 2010-11 where he recorded 30 goals and 57 points in 82 games, but he's severely dropped off since then. He now plays for the New York Islanders.

2007 - Aaron Palushaj, LW (St Louis Blues)

Palushaj was a very highly touted forward coming out of the NCAA, having totaled 50 points in 39 games in his final season with the University of Michigan, but he simply couldn't produce in the NHL. He's currently playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.

2008 - Luke Adam, LW (Buffalo Sabres)

Adam has developed into a solid depth forward, mainly a callup, throughout his career. He's played for the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers, playing 90 games and combining for a total of 26 points.

2009 - Drew Shore, C (Florida Panthers)

Shore has been a solid depth acquisition since being dealt to the Calgary Flames. He put up 38 points in 59 games for the Stockton Heat this year.

2010 - Sebastian Wannstrom, LW (St. Louis Blues)

Wannstrom never panned out for the Blues since being drafted in 2010. He spent the last three years playing in North America in the AHL and ECHL, but returned to Sweden this year to play for Rogle BK of the SHL.

2011 - Brett Ritchie, RW (Dallas Stars)

Ritchie's development has been slow, but he's been a solid player for the Stars organization since his debut. He recorded 28 points in 35 AHL games for the Texas Stars this year.

2012 - Jake McCabe, D (Buffalo Sabres)

McCabe has slowly been developing into one of the Sabres' best defensive prospects. He's not the most flashy, but he's solid all around and could very well become a regular for years to come. He put up 14 points in 77 games for the Sabres this year.

2013 - Tristan Jarry, G (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Jarry was drafted as a potential goalie of the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins, that is, before current young star Matt Murray absolutely broke out in the playoffs for the Penguins. Needless to say, Jarry has been solid in the organization but his future might not be in Pittsburgh, with Marc-Andre Fleury and Murray running the show.

2014 - Eric Cornel, C (Buffalo Sabres)

Cornel just finished his final junior season as captain of the Peterborough Petes, putting up 83 points in 63 games for the Petes. He will likely join the AHL next year, playing for the Rochester Americans.

2015 - Matt Spencer, D (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Spencer will likely never wow you with his offensive ability, but he's a traditional stay at home defenseman. He has good size and plays a strong, physical game.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 44th: Nikolai Kulemin

Kulemin would not be the best player on a better list, but he is the most proven and has had a lengthy NHL career since being drafted. He now plays as a valuable depth forward on the New York Islanders.

RUNNER UP: Drew Shore

POTENTIAL STEALS: Jake McCabe, Tristan Jarry

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 45th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 46th overall, highlighted by Robin Lehner and Jhonas Enroth. There are now 45 days until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 45th overall.

2006 - Jeff Petry, D (Edmonton Oilers)

Between the NCAA, AHL, and NHL, Petry has become a very reliable middle pairing defensive defensemen. He's split time between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens, recording 97 points in 365 games along the way.

2007 - Colby Cohen, D (Colorado Avalanche)

Cohen never made it to the NHL as a full time player. He spent a couple of solid seasons in the AHL and ECHL, but retired from the game after the 2014-15 season.

2008 - Zac Dalpe, LW (Carolina Hurricanes)

Dalpe has made himself known as a solid depth forward for many teams. He's yet to become a full time NHLer, but he's been a solid callup for the teams he's played for, including the Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, and Minnesota Wild.

2009 - Jeremy Morin, RW (Atlanta Thrashers)

Morin, a similar case to Dalpe, has yet to secure a full time NHL job. He's had a couple of runs in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets, but hasn't been able to lock himself on an NHL roster.

2010 - Ryan Spooner, C (Boston Bruins)

Spooner's development as an NHLer has been slow, but it finally paid off after this season. He's had a couple of decent stints, but he really broke out this season, putting up 49 points in 80 games. At age 24, there is still room for him to get better.

2011 - Markus Granlund, C (Calgary Flames)

Brother of Wild centre Mikael Granlund, Markus has been slowly developing into a solid defensive forward. He was recently traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Hunter Shinkaruk, and will have an opportunity to secure a full time NHL role next season.

2012 - Anthony Stolarz, G (Philadelphia Flyers)

Stolarz recently joined the pros after a lengthy career in the USA, and he's been a solid goalie for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He posted a record of 21-18-7 with a 2.60 GAA and a .916 save percentage.

2013 - Nick Sorensen, RW (Anaheim Ducks)

The young Dane spent three seasons playing in the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts, but recently moved to Sweden to play in the SHL. This past season with Linkoping, he recorded 23 points in 37 games.

2014 - Brett Pollock, LW (Dallas Stars)

Pollock recently completed what would be his final year in the WHL, where he recorded 78 points in 72 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings. He will likely join the Stockton Heat full time next season.

2015 - Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, C (Boston Bruins)

Forsbacka-Karlsson is the rare Swede who spent almost his entire career in North America. In his draft year, he played for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, and this season made the transition to Bostin University where he recorded 30 points in 39 games. He's committed to Boston U next season as well.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 45th: Ryan Spooner

It came down to Spooner and Petry for this one, but I gave Spooner the slight edge in this one simply because he's a potential 50 point producer and is younger. He could become a quality second line centre for the Bruins for years to come.

RUNNER UPS: Jeff Petry and Markus Granlund

POTENTIAL STEALS: Nick Sorensen and Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 46th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 47th overall, highlighted by Tyler Toffoli and Shawn Matthias. There are now 46 days until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 46th overall.

2006 - Jhonas Enroth, G (Buffalo Sabres)

Enroth first entered the league full time in 2010-11, and has since been a very reliable backup splitting time between the Sabres, Dallas Stars, and Los Angeles Kings. He finished this season with the Kings with a 7-5-1 record, along with a 2.17 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

2007 - Theo Ruth, D (Washington Capitals)

Ruth really never panned out in the pros since being drafted. He failed to produce in both the AHL and the ECHL, and retired from hockey in 2013-14.

2008 - Colby Robak, D (Florida Panthers)

Robak has had a couple of solid AHL seasons, but has yet to pan out in the NHL. He's shuffled between many organizations, including the Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, and Buffalo Sabres.

2009 - Robin Lehner, G (Ottawa Senators)

Lehner was once looked at as the goalie of the future for the Ottawa Senators. Though after AHL goaltender Andrew Hammond broke out and had a monster run, there was no place for Lehner on the team. He was traded to Buffalo and put up very respectable numbers on a rather weak team.

2010 - Martin Marincin, D (Edmonton Oilers)

Marincin was drafted as a very solid defensive defenseman for the Oilers, but they ended up trading him in the offseason to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he found himself playing top pairing minutes alongside of Morgan Rielly.

2011 - Joel Edmundson, D (St. Louis Blues)

It took a while, but Edmundson is slowly developing into a mainstay on the Blues defensive core as a stay at home defenseman. He appeared in 67 games this season, posting nine points.

2012 - Raphael Bussieres, LW (Minnesota Wild)

Bussieres has spent the majority of his pro career in the ECHL for the Alaska Aces and the Quad City Mallards since going pro, with minor stints in the AHL.

2013 - Gustav Olofsson, D (Minnesota Wild)

Olofsson has put up solid totals in the AHL since turning pro, especially for the type of player he is. He registered 17 points in 52 games for the Iowa Wild, and could look to improve it next season.

2014 - Julius Bergman, D (San Jose Sharks)

Bergman had a strong season in the AHL last year with the London Knights, and had a decent first AHL campaign with the San Jose Barracuda, putting up 11 points in 60 games.

2015 - Daniel Sprong, RW (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Sprong is the definition of a profilic goal scorer. He had a great season with the Charlottetown Islanders last season in which he recorded 88 points in 68 games, and he joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for their playoff run, where he's totaled five goals and six points in six games.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 46th: Robin Lehner

To me, this came down to Lehner and Enroth. I gave Lehner the edge simply because he's done more than Enroth at a younger age, and now that he's been given a full starting job in Buffalo, he could very likely develop into a quality NHL goalie.

RUNNER UPS: Jhonas Enroth, Martin Marincin

POTENTIAL STEAL: Daniel Sprong

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 47th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 48th overall, highlighted by Xavier Ouellet. There are now 47 days until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 47th overall.

2006 - Shawn Matthias, C (Detroit Red Wings)

Matthias has enjoyed a solid NHL career to date, splitting time as a third line checker type player between the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and now Colorado Avalanche. He never played for the Wings but has totaled 159 points in 479 NHL games.

2007 - Dana Tyrell, C (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Tyrell had a good junior career and a decent AHL career, but never panned out in the NHL. He played one full season in 2010-11 for the Lightning, but never played more than 25 games after that, and is now retired.

2008 - Maxime Sauve, C (Boston Bruins)

Sauve didn't pan out in the NHL for the Bruins, playing a couple of seasons for the Providence Bruins in the AHL. He left North America for the DEL, but recently returned and spent last season with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

2009 - Ethan Werek, RW (New York Rangers)

The hard working checking forward has jumped between many minor league teams, but is now playing in the Carolina Hurricanes system for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

2010 - Tyler Toffoli, RW (Los Angeles Kings)

Toffoli, has quickly become one of the Kings' most reliable offensive forwards. After a good performance last season, he absolutely broke out this year in a campaign that saw him put up 31 goals and 58 points in 82 games. There's still room for him to develop as well.

2011 - Matt Nieto, LW (San Jose Sharks)

Nieto has been a very reliable two way forward for the Sharks since being drafted. This season, he put up 17 points in 67 games while playing bottom six minutes. He will likely never wow anybody with offensive production, but he's a very solid defensive player.

2012 - Brock McGinn, LW (Carolina Hurricanes)

Brother of Tye and Jamie McGinn, Brock had a very successful OHL career with the Guelph Storm and has enjoyed a very successful sophomore AHL season this year, putting up 35 points in 48 games for the Charlotte Checkers.

2013 - Tommy Vannelli, D (St. Louis Blues)

Vannelli made the transition to the WHL in 2013-14, and after two successful seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers, he joined the Chicago Wolves for the AHL season but missed almost the entire season due to injury. He could still become a solid defenseman for the Blues.

2014 - Ryan Collins, D (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Collins is a massive defensive defenseman who won't overwhelm you with offensive production, but rather play a very safe, stay at home game. He put up 4 points in 29 games for the University of Minnesota this season.

2015 - Jansen Harkins, C (Winnipeg Jets)

Harkins is one of those players that doesn't neccessarily excel in any aspect, but rather is good in every area of his game and will consistently be a reliable player for you. His offensive production dipped slightly this season, but he will head back to play for Prince George for one final season before playing in the AHL full time.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 47th: Tyler Toffoli

It's not hard to choose Tyler Toffoli as the best player on this list. He had his first 30 goal season at age 23 and could very well do it again given his age and the players around him. Overall a very good player.

RUNNER UPS: Shawn Matthias, Matt Nieto

POTENTIAL STEALS: Jansen Harkins, Tommy Vannelli

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 48th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 49th overall, highlighted by Calvin Pickard and Stefan Elliott. There are now 48 days until the 2016 NHL Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 48th overall.

2006 - Joey Ryan, D (Los Angeles Kings)

Ryan is the classic case of a player who had a good junior career, but failed to live up to expectations in the pros and eventually retired. He played for a number of AHL and ECHL teams before retiring after the 2012-13 season.

2007 - Antoine Lafleur, G (New York Rangers)

Lafleur looked like a pretty good goalie in his draft year, but his stats quickly plummeted afterwards and he retired after his final junior season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Needless to say, he didn't pan out.

2008 - Mitch Wahl, C (Calgary Flames)

Wahl had a great junior career and a couple of decent AHL seasons, but never made it past there. He spent last season with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL but eventually left North America and most recently played for IK Oskarshamn of the Swedish Allsvenskan League. He's committed to Ilves of the SM-Liiga for next season.

2009 - Brett Ponich, D (St. Louis Blues)

Ponich has yet to establish himself in the NHL, or even the AHL. He's currently playing for the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL, where this past season the hulking defenseman recorded 18 points in 68 games.

2010 - Curtis Hamilton, LW (Edmonton Oilers)

Hamilton is oddly enough the first player on this list to even make it to the NHL, and he only played in one game. He spent time in the AHL after his junior career before going to the Czech Republic to play for HC Sparta Praha.

2011 - Xavier Ouellet, D (Detroit Red Wings)

Ouellet has become a quality defenseman in the Red Wings farm system and even earned himself a pair of callups over the last two seasons. He recorded 29 points in 61 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

2012 - Dillon Fournier, D (Chicago Blackhawks)

Fournier only played a total nine games in the AHL and ECHL combined this season due to injury. If he heals properly, he could still develop into a solid defenseman.

2013 - Zach Nastasiuk, RW (Detroit Red Wings)

Nastasiuk is a very effective two way forward and penalty killer. He spent this season jumping between the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL and the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. He recorded 20 points in 25 games for the Walleye.

2014 - Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW (Philadelphia Flyers)

Kubel has enjoyed a very solid junior career to this date, finishing last season over a point per game. He turns 20 in a few days, so he'll likely play for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season.

2015 - Filip Chlapik, LW (Ottawa Senators)

Chlapik had a very solid draft year performance, but his production totals have dipped slightly since then. He could still become a very solid player for the Sens if he has a rebound 2016-17 junior season.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 48th: Xavier Ouellet

I know we've had some pretty bad lists, but man, this one was just pathetic. Ouellet could turn out to be a solid defenseman, but he hasn't had enough NHL experience to be deserving of the average best player title. Needless to say, teams really didn't do well when picking at 48th.

RUNNER UP: None

POTENTIAL STEALS: Nicolas Aube-Kuel, Filip Chlapik

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 49th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 50th overall, highlighted by Milan Lucic and Colton Sissons. There are now 49 days until the 2016 NHL Draft, so today we'll look at the last ten players drafted 49th overall.

2006 - Ben Maxwell, C (Montreal Canadiens)

Maxwell had a good WHL career along with some successful AHL stints and even a few decent NHL stints, but after being traded three times he never ended up making it to the NHL full time. He now plays for HK Sochi of the KHL.

2007 - Trevor Cann, G (Colorado Avalanche)

Cann never made it to the NHL after a lengthy career in the AHL, and is currently playing in the ECHL for the Brampton Beast. He also appeared in one game for the Stoney Creek Generals of the ACH.

2008 - Jared Staal, RW (Phoenix Coyotes)

Shortly after turning pro, Staal was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes to be united with his brothers, Eric and Jordan. Jared's career never took off like his brothers' did, however. He's currently playing in the ECHL for the South Carolina Stingrays.

2009 - Stefan Elliott, D (Colorado Avalanche)

After being traded twice recently, Elliott is now playing for the Milwaukee Admirals in the Nashville Predators organization. He's put up decent totals, with 19 points in 35 games.

2010 - Calvin Pickard, G (Colorado Avalanche)

It took some time, but Pickard is developing into a solid NHL goalie. After Reto Berra was injured last season, Pickard earned himself a callup and became the full time backup this season, posting a record of 7-6-1 with a 2.56 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

2011 - Christopher Gibson, G (Los Angeles Kings)

After the Kings didn't sign him, Gibson signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he spent the majority of his time there with the Toronto Marlies organization. He was recently traded to the New York Islanders in a six player deal and has played in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

2012 - Martin Frk, LW (Detroit Red Wings)

Frk had a solid junior career with the Halifax Mooseheads and has since made his way to the AHL for the Red Wings, recording 68 points in 149 AHL games.

2013 - Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau, LW (San Jose Sharks)

Boudreau just finished a solid junior career in the QMJHL, splitting time between the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, and Gatineau Olympiques. He will report to the San Jose Barracuda next season.

2014 - Vaclav Karabacek, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

Karabacek is described as a player who will not wow you with his skills in any area, but he's just a very solid forward who plays a simple game. He's recorded 117 points in 171 QMJHL games so far.

2015 - Roope Hintz, C (Dallas Stars)

The big Finn has grown into a very reliable forward for HIFK of the SM-Liiga. He recorded four points in seven games for Team Finland at the World Juniors and he recorded 20 points in 33 games for HIFK.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 49th: Calvin Pickard

Pickard highlights a very weak list of players drafted to 49th. He's been a solid goalie for the Avs, but still needs to develop his game. Nonetheless he could become a quality goaltender for the Avs in the near future.

RUNNER UP: Stefan Elliott

POTENTIAL STEALS: Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau, Roope Hintz

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 50th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 51st overall, highlighted by Derek Stepan and Calle Jarnkrok. There are now 50 days until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 50th overall.

2006 - Milan Lucic, LW (Boston Bruins)

One of the most hated players around the league, but one of the most effective nonetheless, Lucic spent the majority of his career with the Bruins before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings last summer. His career high season was a 30 goal, 62 point performance in 2010-11.

2007 - Nico Sacchetti, C (Dallas Stars)

Sacchetti never made it to the ECHL, let alone the AHL or NHL. After some underwhelming seasons with the University of Minnesota, he now plays in the EIHL for the Fife Flyers.

2008 - Cameron Gaunce, D (Colorado Avalanche)

Gaunce has only appeared in 20 NHL games, spending most of his days as an AHL journeyman. He currently plays for the Portland Pirates and has recorded 134 points in 419 AHL games.

2009 - Kenny Ryan, RW (Toronto Maple Leafs)

A classic Brian Burke pick. A big, American power forward. He's currently playing in the Anaheim Ducks' system, where he recorded 10 points in 41 games for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL this season.

2010 - Connor Brickley, C (Florida Panthers)

Brickley continues to develop in the Panthers' farm system, now playing for the Portland Pirates. He recorded 27 points in 45 games, and 5 points in 20 games in his short stint with the Panthers.

2011 - Johan Sundstrom, C (New York Islanders)

Sundstrom spent the majority of his career playing in Sweden for Frolunda HC, but has played short stints in both the NHL and AHL. He returned to Frolunda this season where he put up 36 points in 51 games.

2012 - Colton Sissons, C (Nashville Predators)

Sissons is slowly developing into a very effective young forward for the Predators. After putting up nice totals in the AHL for the Milwaukee Admirals, he earned himself a callup and put up 6 points in 34 games.

2013 - Dillon Heatherington, D (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Heatherington has been a solid defensive defenseman his entire career, and has put up decent totals in his first AHL season after a lengthy junior career with the Swift Current Broncos, with 19 points in 61 AHL games.

2014 - Roland McKeown, D (Los Angeles Kings)

McKeown is looking like a very solid pick for the Kings so far. Originally a projected first rounder in 2014, he slipped to the second round and the Kings took him without hesitation. He put up 42 points in 69 games for the Kingston Frontenacs this season, and is likely to make the move to the AHL next season.

2015 - Jordan Greenway, LW (Minnesota Wild)

Greenway, a hulking power forward, had a great freshman season at Boston University. He put up 26 points in 39 games and could develop into a very good physical, offensive presence for the Wild in the future.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 50th: Milan Lucic

Lucic is the best NHL player taken 50th without a doubt. Like him or not, he's a great asset for any team to have and has a knack for physical play and scoring goals.

RUNNER UP: Colton Sissons

POTENTIAL STEALS: Roland McKeown, Jordan Greenway

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 51st Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 52nd overall, highlighted by Richard Panik and Miikka Salomaki. There are now 51 days remaining until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 51st overall.

2006 - Nigel Williams, D (Colorado Avalanche)

Drafted as a punishing defensive defenseman, Williams has a successful junior career but never made it to the big leagues, playing for four different AHL teams before retiring from the game after the 2010-11 series.

2007 - Keven Veilleux, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Veilleux was drafted as a huge centre with good offensive upside, but also never made it to the NHL. He's currently playing for the Cornwall River Kings of the LNAH.

2008 - Derek Stepan, C (New York Rangers)

Stepan has enjoyed a very solid NHL career to date with the New York Rangers, playing regular top six minutes on the team. He's put up 305 points in 434 NHL games.

2009 - Brian Dumoulin, D (Carolina Hurricanes)

Dumoulin never made it with the Hurricanes, but after developing in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Penguins for a few years, he's now a regular defenseman on the Penguins' d core.

2010 - Calle Jarnkrok, C (Detroit Red Wings)

Jarnkrok never played for the Red Wings, but he's slowly been growing his career after being traded to the Nashville Predators during the 2013-14 season. He recorded 30 points in 81 games for the Preds this season.

2011 - Alexander Ruuttu, C (Phoenix Coyotes)

Ruuttu never made it to North America after being drafted by the Coyotes, and is currently still playing in Europe, most recently in Sweden's Allsvenskan league. He's committed to KalPa of the SM-Liiga next season.

2012 - Dalton Thrower, D (Montreal Canadiens)

Thrower hasn't quite made it in the NHL, or even the AHL. After a solid junior career, Thrower now plays for the Brampton Beast of the ECHL.

2013 - Robert Hagg, D (Philadelphia Flyers)

Hagg, a two way defenseman capable of playing a pure defensive game has been slowly, but steadily growing in the AHL. He's recorded a total of 35 points in 144 AHL games.

2014 - Jack Dougherty, D (Nashville Predators)

After being drafted out of the USNTDP, Dougherty spent this season playing for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, recording 52 points in 68 games. He's likely going to make the full time transition to the AHL next year.

2015 - Brendan Guhle, D (Buffalo Sabres)

Guhle is a solid two way defenseman who continues to work on his offensive game. He recorded 28 points in 63 games for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL this season.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 51st: Derek Stepan

There's no doubt that Stepan is the best player to be drafted 51st overall. He's not only a regular 50 point producer on a contending team, he's also young and could still improve. He should be a quality centre for years to come.

RUNNER UPS: Calle Jarnkrok and Brian Dumoulin

POTENTIAL STEALS: Robert Hagg, Jack Dougherty, Brendan Guhlev

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 52nd Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 53rd overall, highlighted by Travis Hamonic and William Karlsson. There are now 52 days left until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll look at the last ten players drafted 52nd overall.

2006 - Keith Seabrook, D (Washington Capitals)

Brother of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, Keith didn't pan out the same way his brother did. He had a decent junior career and some solid AHL seasons, but played last year in the ECHL and is now retired.

2007 - Oscar Moller, LW (Los Angeles Kings)

Moller had some small stints in the NHL, but spent the majority of his time in North America in the AHL and then went on to play in Europe, mainly for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. He played this season with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

2008 - Brandon Burlon, D (New Jersey Devils)

Burlon hasn't yet made it to the NHL, but unlike most of the other players who haven't made it yet, Burlon is still in the Devils organization developing with the team. Time is running out for him at age 26, but he could potentially be a late bloomer.

2009 - Richard Panik, RW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Panik has been a flashy player his whole career, but has never seemed to find a stable NHL job. He spent a few years with the Lightning before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Maple Leafs, where he spent one season and then later on was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks. Has totaled 47 points in 181 NHL games so far.

2010 - Philip Lane, RW (Arizona Coyotes)

Lane is still developing in the Coyotes organization afer a decent junior career with the Brampton Battallion, but needs to continue to work on his offensive game.

2011 - Miikka Salomaki, LW (Nashville Predators)

Salomaki has been a nice depth addition to a growing Preds team who are currently in the second round of the playoffs. He's a solid two way forward and is looking like a good future asset for the Preds.

2012 - Teodors Blugers, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Blugers has been a solid NCAA player since being drafted, but has failed to produce in his short AHL stint with the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins, without a point in 16 games.

2013 - Justin Bailey, LW (Buffalo Sabres)

Bailey has so far been a solid addition to the Sabres AHL team, the Rochester Americans. He's put up 45 points in 70 games for them and could potentially develop into a solid power forward in the NHL.

2014 - Maxim Letunov, C (St Louis Blues)

Letunov has since been traded to the Arizona Coyotes, but nevertheless has been a great producer for the University of Connecticut, finishing this year with 40 points in 36 games, and adds depth to an already stacekd forward pool.

2015 - Jeremy Lauzon, D (Boston Bruins)

Lauzon has proven to be a very solid prospect for the Bruins, recording 50 points in 46 games on the QMJHL powerhouse Rouyn-Noranda Huskies as a defenseman. He will likely head back to the Q for one final year before making the jump to the AHL.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 52ND: Richard Panik

Let's be honest, this is probably the overall weakest list I've done so far, for both current players and prospects. Panik is a decent player, but hasn't played more than third line minutes during his career. He's still been an effective player, however.

RUNNER UP: Miikka Salomaki

POTENTIAL STEALS: Maxim Letunov, Jeremy Lauzon

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 53rd Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players to go 54th overall, highlighted by Artem Anisimov and Eric Gelinas. There are now 53 days remaining until the draft, so today we'll look at the last ten players to go 53rd overall.

2006 - Mathieu Carle, D (Montreal Canadiens)

Carle had a very solid junior career for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, registering a total of 195 points in 258 games. That being said, he couldn't translate his junior success to the NHL and currently plays for Adler Mannheim of the DEL after brief stints in the AHL and KHL.

2007 - Will Weber, D (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Drafted as a big defensive defenseman, Weber has jumped up and down between the AHL and the ECHL, and recently finished this season with the Fort Wayne Komets recording 11 points in 64 games.

2008 - Travis Hamonic, D (New York Islanders)

After a solid OHL career, Hamonic has spent the last six seasons with the New York Islanders and has developed into one of the league's best young defensive defensemen and still has time to grow. He's registered a total 132 points in 395 NHL games.

2009 - Anton Rodin, LW (Vancouver Canucks)

Rodin has spent the vast majority of his career playing in Sweden, primarily for Brynas HF. After posing as team captain while recording 37 points in 33 games, he's committed to playing in North America, possibly for the Canucks next season.

2010 - Mark Alt, D (Carolina Hurricanes)

Alt had a successful career with the University of Minnesota and has made his way to the Philadelphia Flyers organization, where he's currently playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. He recorded 19 points in 72 games for the Phantoms this season.

2011 - William Karlsson, C (Anaheim Ducks)

Karlsson is a smart two way centre who made his way to North America last season. After being dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a multi player deal, he was given his first full time role under new head coach John Tortorella, where he recorded 20 points in 81 games.

2012 - Brian Hart, RW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Hart only appeared in 25 games for the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL this season, scoring a lone two goals. He spent the majority of his season with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, posting 15 points in 36 games.

2013 - Madison Bowey, D (Washington Capitals)

Bowey had a great WHL career with the Kelowna Rockets and was a key defenseman for the gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2015 World Juniors. He just finished his first AHL season, recording 29 points in 70 games.

2014 - Noah Rod, LW (San Jose Sharks)

Rod spent this season playing with Geneve-Servette of the NLA in his native Switzerland, and had a great World Junior Campaign for the Swiss, recording six points in six games.

2015 - Rasmus Andersson, D (Calgary Flames)

Andersson has been near a point per game player for his entire OHL career. He's also a defenseman. This season, he's recorded 60 points in 64 games and 15 points in 15 playoff games.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 53RD: Travis Hamonic

It doesn't take a genius to guess that Hamonic is the best player on this list. He plays like a veteran despite being in his mid 20's and he's arguably the most reliable defenseman on the Islanders D core.

RUNNER UP: William Karlsson

POTENTIAL STEALS: Madison Bowey, Rasmus Andersson

Post-Lottery 2016 NHL Mock Draft

By Alex Hobson

The 2016 draft lottery has finally taken place, and now we know who's going to be picking from first overall to 14th overall. You know what this means? The first post-lottery mock draft. I will only be doing the first 14 picks, given the fact that the other ones have not been determined yet, but as we get closer I'll expand each one. Without further ado, lets get into it.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews (C, ZSC Lions, NLA, 6'2, 195)

The Leafs had the highest chance at landing the first overall pick, and when it became a reality, nobody could believe it. Anyways, I have no doubt in my mind that the Leafs select Matthews with the first pick. People say that Patrik Laine could challenge Matthews for the top spot, but the Leafs are in dire need of a big, potential #1 centre. He has great vision and passing ability, a great shot, and he's a born leader. Selecting him would be a huge boost for the rebuild.

2. Winnipeg Jets - Patrik Laine (RW, Tappara, SM-Liiga, 6'4, 209lb)

As if the Jets' didn't already have enough exciting prospects in their pool, Laine joins an extremely talented group of youngsters including Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey to name a few. Laine has been compared to Alexander Ovechkin and Jamie Benn among others and the Jets should not hesitate to snag him at #2.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets - Jesse Puljujarvi (RW, Karpat, SM-Liiga, 6'3, 201lb)

Puljujarvi projects himself as a very similar player to Laine. He had a better World Junior performance, but is slightly smaller and is more of an all around player than Laine, and put up a few less points for his respective Liiga team. Nevertheless, the Jackets will not hesitate to pick the Finn up at third overall.

4. Edmonton Oilers - Matthew Tkachuk (LW, London Knights, OHL, 6'1, 194lb)

Many believe the Oilers will trade this pick, but if they don't then it's entirely possible that they use it to select Tkachuk and use one of their current forwards (primarily Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Jordan Eberle) as trade bait for an established defenseman rather than drafting one who's a few years away. Tkachuk played wing on arguably the best line in the OHL alongside of Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak, and registered 107 points in 57 games along the way.

5. Vancouver Canucks - Jakob Chychrun (D, Sarnia Sting, OHL, 6'2, 195)

Canucks president Trevor Linden showed signs that the Canucks would likely be drafting a defenseman with their first round pick this season, and they would be smart to take Chychrun. He was previously regarded as a top three pick until Puljujarvi and Laine broke out at the World Juniors, and has since slipped a bit. He's a strong two way defenseman that can contribute at both ends of the ice.

6. Calgary Flames - Alexander Nylander (LW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL, 6'0, 176lb)

The brother of current Leafs prospect William Nylander dominated in the OHL this season, earning rookie of the year honors with 75 points in 57 games. Nylander was originally born in Calgary and would be very exciting to watch alongside of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan in a few years.

7. Arizona Coyotes - Olli Juolevi (D, London Knights, OHL, 6'2, 183lb)

With the likes of Dylan Strome, Max Domi, Christian Dvorak, and Anthony Duclair among others, the Coyotes are stacked at forward. That being said, they're also very thin on the defensive side, which is why I could see them taking Juolevi with this pick. Essentially a clone of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, Juolevi had a solid season this year recording 42 points in 57 games.

8. Buffalo Sabres - Clayton Keller (C, USNTDP, USHL 5'10, 170lb)

Keller worked his way into the top ten rankings after a very solid performance at the U18 World Juniors where he recorded 14 points in seven games for Team USA. He posted 107 points in 62 games for the US National U18 team and 37 points in 23 games for the USNTDP juniors, so the Sabres would be getting an offensive force in Keller.

9. Montreal Canadiens - Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, QMJHL, 6'3, 203lb)

The Habs lacked goal scoring this year, and they'd be getting some down the line if they picked up Dubois at ninth. He plays a gritty all around game and put up 99 points in 62 games with Cape Breton this season. Plus, he's a Quebec native and could easily adapt to the French media.

10. Colorado Avalanche - Mikhail Sergachev (D, Windsor Spitfires, OHL, 6'2, 205lb)

Like the Coyotes, the Avalanche lack prospects on the defensive side, and they'd be getting one stud of a d-man if they took Sergachev at 10th overall. The Nizhnekamsk native recorded 57 points in 67 games this season for the Spits and earned OHL defenseman of the year honors.

11. New Jersey Devils - Tyson Jost (C, Penticton Vees, BCHL, 5'11, 192lb)

The Devils need scoring, and Jost would provide just that. Despite playing in a lesser-scouted league in the BCHL, Jost shot up in the rankings after putting up 104 points in 48 games for the Vees, as well as 15 points in seven games for Team Canada at the U18 World Juniors.

12. Ottawa Senators - Jake Bean (D, Calgary Hitmen, D, 6'1, 172lb)

Arguably the best offensive defenseman in this draft, Bean would provide an instant upgrade to the Sens' defensive core after recording 64 points in 68 games for the Calgary Hitmen this season.

13. Carolina Hurricanes - Michael McLeod (C, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL 6'2, 187lb)

A strong two way forward, McLeod is arguably the fastest player in this year's draft and was a key part to the Steelheads' success after notching 61 points in 57 games. He would address the Hurricanes' goal scoring need should they take him at 13.

14. Boston Bruins - Charlie McAvoy (D, Boston University, NCAA, 6'0, 205lb)
McAvoy is the type of defenseman you want to have on your team if you're a contender. A solid two way guy who can play gritty and also supply offense, and is right handed as well. He posted 25 points in 37 games as a freshman at Boston University this season.

Maple Leafs Post Lottery Analysis

By Alex Hobson

I know what you're thinking right now. Heading into this article and reading the title, you're probably thinking "There's not much to analyze. Take Matthews and be done with it". But that's not the point of my article. I'm going to talk about the lottery, the draft, the offseason, and next season.

Lets start off with the draft lottery, which took place last night. The deal with this lottery was that instead of doing a draw simply for the first pick, they instead did one for each of the top three picks. This was actually quite fitting, considering there was a massive drop off in the rankings after the consensous number one, two, and three in Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Jesse Puljujarvi. Yes, Matthew Tkachuk, Jakob Chychrun, and Pierre-Luc Dubois are all quite talented, but they aren't on the same level as the top three.

Essentially, I would have only been truly disappointed had the Leafs slipped to fourth overall. Obviously first overall was the goal, but I wouldn't complain about second or third, and I'm sure the same goes for other fans.

Anyways, when the lottery began, everything was normal up until NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly announced that the Calgary Flames would hold the sixth overall pick, meaning that since the Winnipeg Jets were before them, that the Jets had scored a top three pick. He then announced that the Vancouver Canucks would hold the fifth overall pick, meaning that since the Columbus Blue Jackets were before them, the Jackets had also scored a top three pick.

This left one spot open left for the Maple Leafs in the top three.

Everyone was on their feet, and then Daly announced that the Edmonton Oilers would secure the fourth pick, meaning the Leafs had a spot in the top three. Then everybody breathed a huge sign of relief. He went on to reveal the Jackets logo at third overall, so it was down to the Leafs and the Jets for first overall.

And then it happened.

He revealed the new Maple Leafs logo at #1 overall, and captured the hearts of Leafs fans everywhere. The last time the Leafs had the first overall pick was in 1985, when they used it to select Wendel Clark. Luck was finally starting to go their way again.

WHO TO PICK?

To some fans, this shouldn't even be a question. To some, there could be debate. Recently, Patrik Laine has begun to challenge the highly touted Auston Matthews for the top spot considering he led his SM Liiga team to a championship as an 18 year old and gained MVP honors.

A player like Laine would be beautiful to have, but at this point, the obvious choice should be Matthews. Think about it. Ever since Maple Leafs legend Mats Sundin left the team in 2008, the Leafs have lacked a true #1 centre. They've got one sitting right in front of them with Matthews. He's big at 6'2 and 195lbs, he's smart both offensively and defensively, has a great shot and excellent vision on the ice, and was over a point per game in the Swiss league. Former NHL coach Marc Crawford, who coached Matthews in Switzerland, describes him as a player you build a contender around.

Think of it this way. Matthews is comparable to Jonathan Toews, while Laine is comparable to Jamie Benn. Right now, the Leafs are more in need of a Toews than a Benn. They have two potential superstars on the wing in Mitch Marner and William Nylander (both can play centre, but are rather unproven there) and if Matthews joins the organization, the Leafs have their future number one. For those reasons, I think Matthews is definitely the better choice heading into the 2016 NHL Draft.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LEAFS PICK MATTHEWS?

This is where some questions come into play. Matthews is obviously a clear cut choice in the centre core considering that's his primary position and he has the size to do so, but that leaves two other centres in Nazem Kadri and William Nylander, neither of whom would benefit from third line minutes.

SCENARIO 1: Move Nylander to the Wing

Nylander was drafted as a right wing who likes to play centre, and he very well could play centre for the Maple Leafs. Nylander is a lock to make the team next season and if we have him on the wing, then our one two punch at centre is Nazem Kadri and Auston Matthews.

SCENARIO 2: Move Kadri to the Wing

This scenario is highly unlikely, given that Kadri greatly improved his defensive play and faceoff ability this season, and there would essentially be two rookies acting as the top two centres, which isn't an overly smart idea.

SCENARIO 3: Have all three play centre, use second and third lines in 2A and 2B format

This is another likely scenario. Mike Babcock is known to play his lines the way he wants instead of going with the typical "first line gets most minutes, fourth line gets least". He could very well have Kadri centre the top line with Matthews and Nylander acting as co-second line centres, playing both lines equally.

SCENARIO 4: Trade both Nylander and Matthews, bring Troy Bodie out of retirement and play him first line

No, don't actually do that.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Leafs struck gold big time. They have a chance at claiming their first true number one centre in years, who's ready to play NHL minutes now and will be a key piece to the rebuild. It's going to be a long two months until the draft, but it's safe to say that things are looking up for the Maple Leafs.

Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 54th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 55th overall, highlighted by Marco Scandella and Dmitri Orlov. There are now 54 days left until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll look at the last ten 54th overall picks.

2006 - Artem Anisimov, C (New York Rangers)

The big Russian centre has split his NHL career to date between the Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Chicago Blackhawks, totaling 234 points in 489 games. He just came off of a 20 goal season for the Hawks, centering superstar Patrick Kane and rookie phenom Artemi Panarin.

2007 - Jeremy Smith, G (Nashville Predators)

Smith has been a solid AHL goalie during his career, but is yet to see a decent amount of NHL games. He's split time between the Providence Bruins and Iowa Wild this season, sharing the crease with Malcolm Subban with Providence.

2008 - Patrice Cormier, C (New Jersey Devils)

Cormier has seen some NHL action since being drafted, but not very much. He's been more of an AHL mainstay and is now in the Winnipeg Jets farm system.

2009 - Eric Gelinas, D (New Jersey Devils)

Gelinas spent the majority of his development with the New Jersey Devils organization before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche in the middle of the 2015-16 season. He's amassed a total of 54 points in 162 games.

2010 - Justin Holl, D (Chicago Blackhawks)

Holl never made it in the Blackhawks organization after a few years at the University of Minnesota, but he's enjoying a decent stint with the Toronto Marlies this season, putting up 21 points in 60 games for the team.

2011 - Scott Harrington, D (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Harrington spent a few years with the Penguins' organization before being dealt along with fellow prospect Kasperi Kapanen to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the trade that sent Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh. Harrington missed a large chunk of this season due to injury, but has had solid progression nonetheless.

2012 - Mike Winther, C (Dallas Stars)

Winther enjoyed a few solid years in the WHL between the Prince Albert Raiders, Kamloops Blazers, Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He now plays for the University of Calgary of the CIS.

2013 -  Philippe Desrosiers, G (Dallas Stars)

The Stars didn't really have room for Desrosiers on their AHL team, so he spent this season mainly with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL, posting a 2.34 GAA and a .913 save percentage.

2014 - Hunter Smith, RW (Calgary Flames)

An absolutely monstrous player standing at 6'8 and 223Klbs, Smith could potentially be one of the most feared players in the NHL. He's currently playing for the Stockton Heat of the AHL, posting eight points in 54 games this season.

2015 - Graham Knott, LW (Chicago Blackhawks)

Knott took a minor step back this season after a solid campaign in his draft year with the Niagara Ice Dogs. The power forward recorded 42 points in 68 games.

BEST PLAYER TAKEN 54TH: Artem Anisimov

He centered arguably the best line in the NHL this season, and has become a lock as the second line centre on the Blackhawks. Doesn't have outstanding point totals, but could very well be a solid player for the Hawks for years to come.

RUNNER UP: Eric Gelinas

POTENTIAL STEALS: Graham Knott, Scott Harrington