I understand TSN's point here when they're comparing the two teams, which is the noticeable discrepancy of draft picks accumulated from 2003 to 2011. Basically, the author illustrates that Toronto will have only drafted 16 players in the first three rounds of the draft since 2003, while Los Angeles will have drafted 38 players during the same time. Never mind, the author is being very presumptuous that both Los Angeles and Toronto will stay the course for both the 2010 and 2011 drafts, but this evaluation is only one aspect of how a team evaluates draft picks.

Despite Toronto's low draft pick numbers, the amount of games who have played with Toronto or with another NHL team doesn't make it as disastrous as the article indicates. The LA Kings have a bevy of drafted players, but about half of these players have yet to play in the NHL. Furthermore, the Leafs have made a marking, significant or not, in the rounds beyond the third. The numbers also don't add up, since the author doesn't consider getting back a first round pick to choose Luke Schenn as a wash either. Manipulating the data to prove one's point, despite being technically incorrect? Nah, that never happens!

In fact, since 2003, players drafted by the LA Kings beyond the third round have played in a total of 66 games with the Kings. The Maple Leafs in contrast have drafted players in rounds fourth and beyond who have played a total of 230 games so far with the Leafs. If you include games not with the Leafs, the total jumps to 294 games. In addition, the totals for the Leafs doesn't even include the games played by Viktor Stalberg and Carl Gunnarsson (17 and 14 games so far respectively).

Either way, I understand the study in contrast is an intriguing one to further emphasize the whole notion of Toronto failing in the rebuild through the draft. That can't be argued. But it's not as clearcut as analysts make it out to be, considering the context of both teams being far different when NHL hockey resumed after the lockout. One team made the playoffs for six straight seasons before badly miscalculating the team's overall makeup after the lockout. The other team out West missed the playoffs for two straight seasons immediately preceding the lockout, and are still seeking out their first berth since the 2001-2002 season.