Nikolai Kulemin was the last, Alex Mogilny was easily the best, Dmitry Yushkevich the toughest and Nik Borschevsky provided a Russian's most memorable moment as a Leaf.
Now the need to stock its cupboards with talent has seen Toronto go back to the land of Czars for future stars.
Forward Nikita Soshnikov was signed this past spring out of the KHL and he's just 21.
Last June, 19-year-old defenceman Rinat Valiev was selected in the third round from the Kootenay Ice.
Valiev grew up in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, an industrial community 1000 kilometres east of Moscow.