The scouting genius behind Quinn Hughes is the top target to fix the Maple Leafs draft room
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs could poach themselves an underrated executive from Minnesota as Judd Bracket has been named as potential front office candidate.
With all the discussion recently about who the Maple Leafs are going to target for their vacant GM and President position, they have officially gotten permission to interview Florida Panthers GM Sunny Mehta so we know of at least one name that is gaining a lot of traction.
But the Maple Leafs are also going to be very quiet regarding their decision and have informed fans that they will know once the official announcement is made.
The Judd Bracket blueprint and why he's the missing piece for Toronto's front office
That could be due to their notoriously opaque history with the media, or it might be trying to make sure they have all their options looked at, and according to sources — there's a new name popping up out of the woodwork who could be a big part of their changes.
According to Anthony Di Marco, the Minnesota Wild's Judd Bracket has been getting some attention as someone who may not come in as a GM, but could be a person who helps reshape the front office; though has a few interested suitors:
Though perhaps not as GM, I wonder if Wild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett could be on the Leafs’ radar. He may get consideration from teams looking to reshape their front offices such as the Predators and Canucks.
To say that Brackett would be a huge asset is an understatement. He's spent 10 years as Director of Amateur Scouting for both Vancouver and Minnesota and is known for finding some incredible talent.
Let's take a look at some of the names drafted under him in both Vancouver and Minnesota:
- Quinn Hughes
- Elias Pettersson
- Liam Ohgren
- Zeev Buium
- Jesper Wallstadt
- Marat Khusnutdinov
- Hunter Haight
- Daemon Hunt
- Elias Pettersson
- Liam Ohgren
- Zeev Buium
- Jesper Wallstadt
- Marat Khusnutdinov
- Hunter Haight
- Daemon Hunt
Suffice to say, he's built Minnesota into a powerhouse and the fact that he was able to use his knowledge from drafting Hughes as well as the Wild group to facilitate a deal. He recognized a need for both teams and helped Bill Guerin pull the trigger.
Why poaching the best scouting mind is the only way to fix a broken drafting system
While the scouting team in Toronto isn't exactly awful, they have had more misses than hits recently though the hits they've had tend to get traded before they even have a chance to shine.
Mark Leach runs things now and while his team does have some brilliant minds behind it, there are seemingly some names who aren't helping out.
Radim Jelinek deserves credit for finding Miroslav Holinka, but then you have a lot of 'old' hockey names including Michael Kotkaniemi (who's son Jesper plays in the NHL) as well as Jim Vesey; who's son Jimmy has been in and out of the league for a decade.
But it seems like Toronto is relying more on name value than actual skill and though the likes of Ben Danford, Holinka, and Tyler Hopkins are exciting — it's nowhere near the level of Minnesota.
You need someone who is deeply engrained with the scouting network as a whole and can put the best people in the right spot. If you have a guy familiar with the WHL, don't stick him in Quebec to watch Rimouski.
It's why Toronto needs a huge overhaul when it comes to the scouting department, and although Brackett has found a nice home in Minnesota; he's set them up to succeed.
Time for him to come over and figure out what to do with the Maple Leafs and see if he can finally be the one to build the future properly this time.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Maple Leafs are one step closer to making Sunny Mehta their next GM
The Maple Leafs are one step closer to making Sunny Mehta their next GM
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 10|602 ANSWERS The scouting genius behind Quinn Hughes is the top target to fix the Maple Leafs draft room Should the Maple Leafs hire Judd Bracket as their new Director of Amateur Scouting? | ||
| Yes | 410 | 68.1 % |
| No | 192 | 31.9 % |
| List of polls | ||