WSmith vs ECowan vs RLeonard

[finnys_fanatsy]

I have 1,4,5 and 8 OA coming up in our draft. Pretty obvious Celebrini at 1.

My 4 and 5 picks though I am looking at (at very best) 2 of the 3 of Smith Cowan or Leonard. I have no clue what will happen at 2 and 3 ( been poking at #2 owner but not sure I like the cost)

Smith and Celeb duo sounds juicy even in SJ….if it happens.
Cowan may be stuck in a tough lineup to crack but has potential
Leonard is headed back but might be last chance to snag em up

I know the 2024 class is stacked with high end dmen and at least another really good fwd or two but I want to try and wiggle my way out of the trap of fresh new draft picks. Ya ya 1 yr removed isn’t all that far off but it’s a step.

[Belexus75]

of the 3 Cowan has develped at much higher curve than anticipated so im not sure how sustainable it is and how it would transfer to NHL. he maybe most likely to play next year (due to leafs cap problems more than anything) but he is least likely to get significant minutes in next 3-5 years imo.

Purely offensively i still think Smith is above the others, however Leonard is great all around and i think he may get good deployment right at the start of his NHL carrier, whenever that comes. He would be my choice here.

[zambronies]

In multicat leagues, I have Smith and Leonard fairly even. In your setup, I give the edge to Smith.

I like both quite a bit more than Cowan.

[Feenom]

Smith
Leonard
Leaf who might or may never crack the top 6, will or may never play the PP1. You get the gist. Over rated? Naw

[Belexus75]

Smith
Leonard
Leaf who might or may never crack the top 6, will or may never play the PP1. You get the gist. Over rated? Naw

well i would not say he is overrated, he has been best player in OHL all year, but there is lots of talent on this team and yes, he will have hell of the time to get offensive minutes but it does not mean he cant...Other guys will be handed main roles by default.

[Axeman33]

Remember when Nick Robertson was the next big thing in Toronto and many were paying big to acquire him. Good times.

Smith
Leonard
Cowan

[rataylor22]

Cowan does not even belong in this conversation lol.

Demidov
Smith
Leonard
Buium/Parekh/Iginla/Catton/Lindstrom/G. Perreault

There’s roughly 15-20 players (or more) between last draft and this one that I would take before I would even begin to contemplate Cowan.

[Belexus75]

Remember when Nick Robertson was the next big thing in Toronto and many were paying big to acquire him. Good times.

Smith
Leonard
Cowan

these comparisons are funny, how about going back when Marner was next big thing and he also played on same junior team?

comparing him to Marner means nothing just like comparing him to Robertson means nothing. He is definitely last of the 3 based on what we know but really there are plenty of players that were not selected in top 5 that are very very good...will he be one? i wont hold my breath but you cant dismiss it either.

and btw, if Robertson goes somewhere where he can actually play he still has potential to be very good, tools are there.

[random-d]

The disrespect for Cowan. His stats are absurd and he looked really good at their development camp last year. I can't see the future any better than the rest of you but saying he doesn't belong in the conversation? That's just arrogant.

[Axeman33]

these comparisons are funny, how about going back when Marner was next big thing and he also played on same junior team?

comparing him to Marner means nothing just like comparing him to Robertson means nothing. He is definitely last of the 3 based on what we know but really there are plenty of players that were not selected in top 5 that are very very good...will he be one? i wont hold my breath but you cant dismiss it either.

and btw, if Robertson goes somewhere where he can actually play he still has potential to be very good, tools are there.

I'm just stating the fact that Leafs prospects get overhyped due to the team they play for. Fact.

[Belexus75]

I'm just stating the fact that Leafs prospects get overhyped due to the team they play for. Fact.

but thats the whole thing he is not overhyped, he just finished 7th in OHL during the season and was best scorer in the playoffs and all Toronto fans and media are saying is that he may fit well on 3rd line. If lucky could maybe crack top 6 one day. How is that overhyped?

[Axeman33]

but thats the whole thing he is not overhyped, he just finished 7th in OHL during the season and was best scorer in the playoffs and all Toronto fans and media are saying is that he may fit well on 3rd line. If lucky could maybe crack top 6 one day. How is that overhyped?

I don't know who you follow online or read (I assume a lot of Leaf accounts and writers) but he's getting tons of hype right now because of his OHL playoff success. Are you not seeing the same thing I've been reading recently?

[Belexus75]

You don’t follow anybody online… I listen to tedious and I meet lots of people daily and often talk leafs… online stuff is always overhyped and I’m just about every market

[Axeman33]

You don’t follow anybody online… I listen to tedious and I meet lots of people daily and often talk leafs… online stuff is always overhyped and I’m just about every market

LOL, ok. If you say so.

I can't wait for the Cowan threads in the fall during training camp and pre-season games just here alone.

[zambronies]

but thats the whole thing he is not overhyped, he just finished 7th in OHL during the season and was best scorer in the playoffs and all Toronto fans and media are saying is that he may fit well on 3rd line. If lucky could maybe crack top 6 one day. How is that overhyped?

I would argue that including him in a list with Smith and Leonard is absolutely overhyping Cowan.

If you rank Cowan this highly, surely you’d also include C. Barkey, C. Rehkopf, and W. Musty in the same level, as these players also had good OHL seasons?

When speaking of playoff success for Cowan, I’d also like to point out Servac Petrovsky. He just had himself a very nice U20 tournament, and tied for 1st in both Goals/game and Points/game. Due to that success, I’m curious how you would rank him on this list?

Smith and Leonard are both top prospects in the NHL. I hope Cowan can continue to build on his OHL success this season, but I think he is very far from being included in a tier with Leonard and Smith.