Bob McKenzie reveals who the Toronto Maple Leafs will draft 23rd overall

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Julien Trekker
May 28, 2024 (10:33)

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TSN's reporter Bob McKenzie revealed who the Toronto Maple Leafs should draft at the 23rd overall pick.

With the NHL Entry Draft set to go down in less than a month, all experts are trying to predict what players teams will go after, especially in the first round, where all the most talented prospects will be chosen.

What's interesting about his year's draft, is that there's no real consensus for picks 2 to 12.

And with the Leafs not stepping onto the stage until the 23rd rank, there are many interesting possibilities for general manager Brad Treliving.

Bob McKenzie, a reporter specialized in drafts, shared who he believes the Leafs will get: he thinks that Treliving will set his sights on the Finnish defenseman Aron Kiviharju.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler described Kiviharju's style in a recent paper:

"He manages play in front of him with impressive poise and comfort, directing and influencing play all the way down the ice. He effortlessly advances play under pressure inside his own zone, side-stepping forecheckers to headman pucks."

Rachel Doerrie of ESPN made the following comments on the defenseman:

"For a small defenseman, he manages the play very well through excellent skating in a high-end hockey sense. His footwork is particularly noticeable on the puck where he escapes sticky situations, walks the line and creates space for himself."

Most people agree that Kiviharju is a wild card that could be selected anywhere from the second half of the first round.

However, Treliving is known to prefer big defensemen. Kiviharju, standing at 5'10", isn't very tall, but he's only 18 years old.

Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs will draft Aron Kiviharju at the 23rd overall rank?

Source: Maple Leafs Daily - TSN's Bob McKenzie reveals who he has ranked at the Maple Leafs' #23 draft spot