Toronto Maple Leafs hire Mike Leach as new director of amateur scouting

The move comes after several years of relatively boring drafts for Leafs fans. The team has not drafted particularly high in recent years due to their regular season success, compounded by the team regularly trading their high draft picks. Notably, they have already traded their 2025 first round pick, so Leach will not have a ton of resources to work with in his first draft with the team, unless things change. Leach comes from the Stars organization where he has build an impressive resume.

While Leach was never director of the Stars system, he was assistant director, and thus held a lot of power and responsibility within the team's system. This is good news for Leafs fans, as the Stars have been one of the best teams at the draft in recent years. The team's leading goal scorer in the playoffs this year, Wyatt Johnston, was picked 23rd overall. Two thirds of their top line in Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz were second round picks. Not to mention Jake Oettinger in the late first round and Thomas Harley drafted 18th overall, has turned into one of the best goal scorers among defensemen in the league.

If Leach can get the same kind of value out of his picks in Toronto as he was able to in Dallas, the Leafs could very well build one of the better prospect pools in the league, even while they continue to contend for a Stanley Cup. This is a very exciting development for Leafs fans, and one that should not be taken for granted.