Being a bottom dweller in the NHL is supposed to translate to draft success. But for the Maple Leafs, it’s tough at the top of the order, too.
Since getting Wendel Clark first overall in 1985, Toronto’s unfortunate tendency is to lose its prime ticket through trades, invalidate it with suspect selection or simply have high picks in years with a low-yield field.
Tyler Seguin, Scott Niedermayer and Roberto Luongo were 2-3-4 selections that got away via trade, while Alex Steen, Tuukka Rask were in the house, then banished.
Only recently has the bare cupboard been re-stocked to a degree with top-10 talents.