TORONTO (May 22) — My strong gut–feel about the National Hockey League draft, next month, for which the Leafs were gifted the No. 1 choice? If John Chayka selects Gavin McKenna, as 95 percent of the fan base desires, the Leafs will dazzle audiences during the regular season… and go nowhere in the playoffs. Sound familiar?

Should Chayka buck convention, as he’s prone to, and select defenseman Carson Carels at No. 1 — thereby sending Leafs Nation into hairy conniption fits — the club will still go nowhere for a few years. If, however, properly constructed around Carels, it will begin challenging for the Stanley Cup just when he’s ready to make his mark in the NHL. Around the age of 22. Or, within five years. At which time Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment will cram Chayka’s statue into Legends Row. This is, undoubtedly, the most–genuine path to contention for Chayka and Mats Sundin. Both would need to ignore the cacophony of white noise from abroad; perhaps even from above.

But, it could provide the Maple Leafs the foundation lacking for nearly half–a–century, since Borje Salming was in his prime (1976–80): a savvy, puck–moving/handling blueliner to set the table. Only once in the history of the modern universal draft, dating to 1970, have the Leafs selected and nurtured such a prospect. Ian Turnbull went 15th overall in 1973. Salming was signed out of Sweden that same year as a free agent (with countryman Inge Hammarstrom). He and Turnbull became the most–prolific defense tandem in club history. The closest since Turnbull has been Morgan Rielly (fifth overall in 2012), with good NHL seasons of 72 and 68 points. But, the Maple Leafs have gone nowhere during his mostly solid reign as “best” defenseman. Tomas Kaberle was a fluke, 204th selection in the 1996 draft and posted 520 NHL points: third in franchise history, behind Salming and Rielly.

So, this isn’t to suggest that Leafs management has been blind to the deficit. Even in later years, attempts were made to fill the position. In 1981, Jim Benning (Portland WHL) went sixth overall. In 1982, Gary Nyluund (Portland WHL) went third. Al Iafrate (Belleville OHL) was selected fourth in 1984; Luke Richardson (Peterborough OHL) seventh in 1987. More recently, Cliff Fletcher traded up to pick Luke Schenn No. 5 in 2008. Ben Danford, the club’s top blueline prospect at the moment, came aboard 31st in 2024. The best of this group should have been Nylund, a nasty piece of work at 6-foot–4, 203 pounds, coming off 66 points and 267 penalty minutes in Junior. Sadly for the Leafs, Nylund tore up a knee in an exhibition game (Sep. 27, 1982) against Quebec, requiring surgery, and was never a dominant force. Benning skated too awkwardly to be an impact player in the NHL. Iafrate had infinite talent, but was too raw to help the inexperienced Leafs of the mid–80’s. Richardson crafted a long career as a defensive performer, but had limited skill. Schenn has never been part of a Norris Trophy discussion.

As with all teams, history has proven cruel to the Maple Leafs, who passed on such future Hall–of–Famers as Grant Fuhr, Al MacInnis (1981); Scott Stevens, Phil Housley (1982); Joe Sakic (1987) and Erik Karlsson (2008).

IAN TURNBULL IS THE LONE DEFENCEMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSAL NHL DRAFT (SINCE 1970) TO BE SELECTED AND NURTURED INTO A STAR BY THE MAPLE LEAFS. MORE THAN A HALF–CENTURY AGO. NOTHING HAS HELD BACK THE CLUB MORE THAN THIS LONG–IGNORED NECESSITY.

But, this year is altogether different.

In the amalgamated world of MLSE, owning the No. 1 draft choice offers more than strategic endowment. It becomes part of a grand marketing and merchandising plan that increases the value of the company. The money gurus at Scotiabank Arena have visions of the No. 72 jersey flying off shelves. As such, I’m not suggesting that Ed the Conqueror will order Chayka to select McKenna in the No. 1 slot. But, there’s likely to be a fair amount of “encouragement” from the ivory tower. The new GM, if considering other options, will need to make a solid counter–argument. Which should not be required of an employee tasked with ending the longest Stanley Cup drought.

This is where Chayka needs considerable backbone. He can follow the route–of–least–resistence and select McKenna. The fans will be thrilled to have a new option for Christmas gifts. None will worry that hoarding soft, talented forwards in the draft has taken the Leafs absolutely nowhere. Most will also choose to ignore the compulsory requirement of an elite defenseman, having never in their lives seen such a player wearing blue and white.

The corporate henchmen at Rogers won’t utter a peep, so long as licensing revenue continues to reach skyward. MLSE will never admit this, but finishing atop the annual Forbes Magazine list of NHL franchises is akin to raising the Stanley Cup. Until there exists a balance between economic urgency and personnel demands, the Leafs will never challenge for the NHL title. But, I’m not sure that matters around here anymore… after all the decades.

I will conclude with a variation of the message emanating from this corner since 2012, when my website launched: If the Leafs hope to reflect, one day, on this unwarranted gift of a No. 1 draft pick, Chayka must be certain — at any cost (even McKenna) — that he emerges with an answer to the interminable blue–line deficit. Any way he possibly can. Via the draft, a trade, or a combination of the two. Signing such a late bloomer as Darren Raddysh (70 points this past season in Tampa) as an unrestricted free agent probably won’t work, as the Leafs aren’t close to contending for the Cup. McKenna and Raddysh would be considered, by many, as good off–season work by Chayka. But, methinks the GM knows better. The Leafs have made a cottage industry out of stop–gap moves… with nothing to show for any of them when it matters. Chayka understands the club is in dire need of a foundation on the back end. That can grow with the team. He has the chance with that first pick. Will he stay conventional?

Or, might he pull one of the gutsiest maneuvers in modern franchise history?

THE 1973–74 MLG EXPORT CALENDAR

As mentioned, this was the season the Maple Leafs emerged with three of the most–skilled players in franchise history: Borje Salming, Ian Turnbull and Lanny McDonald. Coached by former star Red Kelly, who deployed a trio of veteran goalies: Ed Johnston, Doug Favell and Dunc Wilson. Coming on the heels of the worst season for the club in modern NHL annals: the 27–41–10 blight (for 64 points) in 1972–73, a 16–point decline from the previous year. After obtaining the aforementioned players, the Leafs improved by 22 points and made the playoffs in the East Division, getting swept by Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and the Boston Bruins. These large, colorful calendars were part of my youth. They were featured in barber shops throughout the city and the dozen that I own (from the 1960’s and 70’s) remain among the most–coveted items in my hockey collection.

 
THE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER PAGES (ABOVE) FROM THE 1973–74 MLG CALENDAR. CLOSE–UPS (BELOW) OF THE MAPLE LEAFS’ 1972–73 TEAM PHOTO… AND THE TRIUMPHANT TEAM CANADA 1972.

THE LEAFS PLAYED AT HOME (ABOVE) ON ALL FIVE SATURDAY NIGHTS IN DECEMBER 1973.

NO ONE FROM THIS HOCKEY ERA NEEDED TO LOOK AT THE NAMES OF THESE LEGENDARY PLAYERS. FACIAL RECOGNITION WAS MORE–THAN ENOUGH. MONTREAL AND CHICAGO PLAYED FOR THE 1973 STANLEY CUP, WHICH INCLUDED SEVEN OF THE 12 PLAYERS PICTURED HERE.

THE 1972–73 TORONTO MARLBOROS, COACHED BY EX–LEAFS CAPTAIN GEORGE ARMSTRONG, WON THE MEMORIAL CUP AND FEATURED SUCH FUTURE NHLers AS BILLY HARRIS, MIKE PALMATEER, BRUCE BOUDREAU, MARK HOWE, GLEN GOLDUP, WAYNE DILLON AND DENNIS OWCHAR.

THIS MONTH BEGAN WITH A RARITY FOR THE LEAFS: A WIN (MAR. 3) AT THE BOSTON GARDEN.

THE STANLEY CUP COMBATANTS FOR 1973 (ABOVE). MONTREAL DEFEATED CHICAGO IN SIX GAMES FOR ITS FIRST OF FIVE NHL CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER SCOTTY BOWMAN.

EVERYWHERE WE LOOKED, BACK THEN, WE SAW BOBBY ORR’S PHOTO.

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