Two players strongly linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2024 NHL Draft

Peter Baracchini of 'The Hockey Writers' confirmed that two draft eligible prospects, Andrew Basha & Lucas Pettersson, spoke with the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Basha, a left winger, played on a stacked Medicine Hat Tigers team that included fellow 2024 top prospect Cayden Lindstrom, as well as 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna. Basha had 30 goals, 55 assists & 85 points in 63 games for the Tigers this season in the Western Hockey League, 3rd in Points among WHL draft eligibles.

Basha is a quick, mobile playmaking forward who plays an uptempo game and does well carrying the puck and creating scoring chances. He has also featured on Medicine Hat's PP and PK, and likely could be a special teams asset in the NHL.

Lucas Pettersson is a center for MoDo of the Swedish U20. Pettersson is a versatile forward who can play both Center and wing, and plays a creative and mobile game. He's a bursty playmaker who does well moving the puck in tight, and play elusive, making him hard to contain. He's a little on the lighter side at 5'11 and 170lbs.

Pettersson also said to reporters that he spoke to 28 teams. Another top prospect in Michael Hage, said he spoke all 31 teams, including Toronto.

Basha is ranked as high as 14th and as low as 39th. Bob McKenzie ranks Basha 24th. Pettersson is projected closer to the end of the first round to early second. Ranked highest by Bob McKenzie at 31. Hage is ranked as high as 12th, but 36th by McKenzie.

The first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft is on June 28th. The Toronto Maple Leafs have the 23rd overall pick.