15 Apr 2026 14:27:54
A draft day hypothetical I’ve been mulling over this morning is how can the Leafs rebuild the system in one draft.... Here's what I came up with

First the Leafs have to land the top 5 pick then,

Tor: 5th overall 2nd 2026( LA pick) one of Robertson/Maccelli both (RFA)

Stl: picks 9th 15th (Det)

With those picks Toronto selects @ 9th
Daxon Rudolph 6’2 203lbs RHD 28g 50a 78p 68gp

Then @15
Ryan Rooboreck 6’4 216lbs LHC 30g 28a 58pts
49gp

Then with their 3rd pick
Ethan Mackenzie 6’0 174lbs LHD 22g 36a 58pts 59gp

So my deep dive here I’ll start with why St. Louis makes this trade and my simple answer is a new GM looking to make a swing. The Blues have a decent prospect pool and some quality young guns, they also have 3 first this year so they need quality over quantity.

Daxon Rudolph is 3rd in the WHL in scoring, projected at 13 on Tankathon. From what I have read he is one of the most complete players in this draft; he is a great skater, can clearly put up numbers offensively and is solid defensively.

If I’m Toronto, a lot of the D men in the top 5 have good qualities but no great qualities. Daxon is more of a safe, sure pick imo.

Ryan Rooboreck the more I read about him the more I like him, coming into the year he was projected as a top 5 pick coming off a 45g 87pts season he’s your prototypical power forward and from what I read his offensive IQ is off the charts.

Ethan Mackenzie I seen someone else here mention this player and upon further review they were right passed over the last two drafts. The reports on him are although he’s smaller he’s a dog willing to sacrifice anything to make a play or get a stop, superb skater who is an almost automatic zone exit. Again I like what I’ve heard

So that’s my thinking on how the farm gets rebuilt 3 top end prospects with room to grow into quality NHLers and with no first the next 2 years now the time to buy

1.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 20:47:21
The 1 issue is. How does this help us now?

Your deal is more rebuild style vs retool. I'd much rather offer the 5th ova and Robertson to get to 3rd and draft Verhoeff. Which is the dman we need to be serious about targetting to make the retool work.

2.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 21:38:41
Where’s the third pick coming from?

3.) 16 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 23:32:56
Rudolph will be a good one.However I think this draft has one of the best list of D-men in a long time. I would hang onto the Pick (Hopefully it is even higher than 5th in the lottery. But if it is 5th I would probably take Malholtra if Verhoeff is gone. However.... I would also have conversations with Seattle if they stay in the 6th spot and see who they really, really want with their pick and then say we will swap positions so they can grab their playe and in return we get one one of those great prospects they have in the system already and then we do our Pick.

Second Round I pick Adam Nemec and then Eth.an McKenzie in the 3rd riound.

4.) 16 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 23:57:51
Rooberoeck is kind of a crapshoot with scouts having him ranked mid first round to late 2nd round. Biggest knock that seems to be a consistent is he can be very passive and at times lazy. That is why he has dropped in many scouts assessments.

5.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 02:17:49
I think if you look at the reports guys like Verhoff and Reid are not slam dunk prospects which is why I opted to maybe try and go for multiple players this either way, no player drafted this year helps the Leafs next year that’s will need to be done via trade or.

6.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 09:10:57
@Goat2.0 Not sure what you mean by slam dunk? There’s never truly a sure thing until they’ve played in the NHL and succeeded. Now, by slam dunk if u mean NHL ready for next season? U may be right but….. They’re both looking like franchise cornerstone players off initial scouting projections.

Wherever u read/heard this, I hope they’re wrong, man. We need this! This could potentially give us something we haven’t had in decades, a true number 1 D. Cross your fingers, boys, this could be it.

7.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 12:22:40
I have heard and read that Chase Reid has fallen off during the last month. But is still considered a Top 4 D-man in the NHL. Verhoeff is still looked at Top 3 pick maybe 4 depending on a team's needs, But is considered a Top 2 D-man in the NHL eventually on the majority of teams. His ceiling is huge. He is one of the youngest in the Draft still adjusting in that massive frame.

Is not blazing on his initial steps on a rush but has good top end speed (Don't forget he was a Goalie until 5 years ago and is still working on his Skating) but has extremely agile feet for defending and very quick hands for his playmaking, and a cannon of a shot. I'd take him if he is available. I don't think he will be if we pick 5 or 4 though.

8.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 14:57:35
When I look at Verhoeff he reminds me a lot of Owen Power. Now Power is a solid player but isn’t a standout. I guess tbh is I had to choose between him and Reid. I’m taking Reid.

9.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 01:22:27
Not trying to start an argument here. But I watched a lot of Verhoeff on FLo Hockey this year. Never compare him to Owen Power. Owen Power is a huge body who does not use his body or size. Verhoeff physically dominates battles for the puck on the boards or the corners and moves his men from the front of the net like they were boys.

Reid also does not do that. He plays more of an Owen Power, avoiding the physicality game as well. Reid is behind not just Verhoeff in the true physical game as a D-Man but also Carels, Smits, and Rudolph.