Brian S

Looking at the top re-entry prospect options at forward for the upcoming draft, who I think could be interesting as choices for Toronto.

Last year, Toronto drafted three defensemen in the fourth round or later. Brad Treliving seems to like taking swings on certain kinds of defensemen, so I looked at some options that I think could make sense for the Leafs that I also like.

There are several forward prospects not ranked very highly, or at all, by almost any scouting outlet who I think would make for great swings in the later rounds.

Goalies are voodoo, so let's look at some of the top names and more interesting goalie prospects who will be available in this year's draft.

Agafonov is one of the top defensemen out of Russia this year, with very strong defense and physicality but question marks about how good his offense can be.

Annborn is one of the more interesting Swedish defense prospects in this draft, with a more complete all-around game than others I've been profiling but some question marks on how much projection he has in improving his skills.

Limatov is a big, mobile defenseman out of Russia who has a lot of skill as a puck mover but is more of a long-term project to fully realize his potential.

Barnhill might be my favourite prospect in this year's draft who fits Toronto's type of big, physical defensive defenseman since he can also skate well and has intriguing puck moving potential.

Engle is an interesting mix of size, skating, and two-way potential that hasn't been realized to a high level yet, who feels like a great third-round swing to me.

Svrcek may not be the most highly skilled player I am profiling this year, but he is still very fun to watch because of his high speed, pace, energy and tenacity that seems ideal as a third-line play-driver and supporting winger.

Hillström is a player for people who loved Fraser Minten. He's a big, solid, smart two-way pure centre with skill to help facilitate and connect offense even if it doesn't generate goals and points for himself.

Paupanekis seems like an ideal third line centre candidate with a mix of size, physical play on both sides of the puck, and defense that make him seem like a solid bet as a third or even second round pick.

Lee is up there with Zharovsky for the most purely fun skilled player on my list of draft profiles this year, with some similar but some different weaknesses that make him more likely to be a second- or third-round pick.

Zharovsky is one of the most purely fun, skilled players I've watched this year, but has question marks around the quality of competition he faced and how well you can project him to pro hockey.

Beauchesne is an averaged sized, right shot defenseman who has potential as a solid all around two-way defenseman. He may not have a lot of hype, but he's quietly been one of the more effective defenders in the OHL.

Psenicka made the jump from Czechia to the WHL halfway through the season but has made an immediate impact and big improvements already in his short time with Portland.

Wang will be the third ever Chinese-born player to be drafted to the NHL, thanks to his mix of size and skating and raw potential as a defenseman.

Brzustewicz is an interesting but raw two-way defenseman prospect who played with Cowan on the prospect factory that is the London Knights, and may be relatively unknown because of how blocked he is by the pure talent on the best team in the OHL.

Amico is arguably the best of the big defensive defensemen in this draft as far as his pure potentia. But a big question mark is a season-ending injury that kept him out of almost the entire year.

Schmidt is one of the smallest players in this draft, and the age old question of if he has enough skill to make up for that will likely see him fall a lot at the draft.

Kevan is one of my favourite prospects to watch in this year's draft in terms of pure fun with the puck on his stick, but he has some underrated off-puck skills to make him an interesting swing.

Nestrašil may be a bean pole, but he has the makings of a very interesting new age power forward with a blend of intelligent physicality and skill.

McKinney is my favourite forward in a relatively weak crop of the US National Development Program this year, but he's definitely interesting enough for a second round pick.

The big centre from Quebec is a different kind of player than you typically see come out of the QMJHL, one that I quite like and hope falls to Toronto.

Tomorrow I start my annual tradition of writing way too many words on several prospects that will very likely not be drafted by the Leafs. Let's establish my process and list what I have to come.