With the 2015-2016 season in the rearview mirror and the draft in site, all eyes are turned to Sunrise, Florida. For the Leafs, a rare two first round selections highlight an exciting time for the franchise, as a new, younger direction moves forward.
Looking back at past fourth overall and twenty-fourth overall selections, what takeaways can we deduce, and just how good were the players. Let's start by taking a look at who has been taken.
Fourth Overall
Here are each of the players taken fourth overall, dating back 35 years.
Notes:
- Standout players include Alex Pietrangelo, Nicklas Backstrom, Robert Luongo, Paul Kariya, Steve Yzerman, Ron Francis and Larry Murphy
- The only Leafs selection at fourth overall, Al Iafrate, anchored the Leafs blueline for seven years and amassed 463 points in 799 career games from the backend
- The majority of the players taken fourth overall were forwards (21), with 13 defensemen and one goalie selected
- Only Pavel Brendl, Alexandre Volchkov, Jason Bonsignore and Wayne McBean didn't have prolonged NHL careers
- Some top-line talent at No.