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Maple Leafs Need to Get Creative with Undrafted Players

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Apr 7, 2026 2:02 PM ET

Over the past few seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone all-in on winning immediately, which has meant giving up quite a few draft picks. Now their prospect pool is thinner than you’d want for a team with big expectations. If the new management group is serious about building something that lasts, they need to think outside the box — and hunting for good undrafted free agents should be high on the list.

There Are Some Surprising NHL Players Who Were Never Drafted

You’d be surprised how many solid NHL players went completely undrafted. Teams that do a good job scouting the college ranks, European leagues, and the minors can still find quality guys without burning more draft picks. It’s remarkable how many players slipped through the draft only to make real NHL impacts. These include guys like Artemi Panarin (now with the Kings), Mats Zuccarello in Minnesota, Jonathan Marchessault with Nashville, and Yanni Gourde in Tampa Bay all slipped through the draft but turned into real contributors.

A Different Look at These Top Five Undrafted Players

Here’s a clean list of the top active undrafted players making real impacts right now, ranked roughly by overall value and recent production:

Rank	Player	Team	Key Stats (career or recent)	Why He Matters
1	Artemi Panarin	Los Angeles Kings	950 points in 824 games, that’s 1.15 PPG	Elite scorer, perennial Hart candidate
2	Mats Zuccarello	Minnesota Wild	741 points in 961 games, regular 60-70 pt guy	Playmaking wizard, durable veteran
3	Jonathan Marchessault	Nashville Predators	574 points in 774 games, Stanley Cup winner	Clutch scorer, playoff performer
4	Yanni Gourde	Tampa Bay Lightning	375 points in 679 games, gritty two-way forward	Just keeps showing up when the play gets tight
5	Chris Tanev	Toronto Maple Leafs	Ironically, on the Maple Leafs – a perfect example of UDFA success	Shutdown defender and low-maintenance add

These players are game changers. And right on Toronto’s back end, Chris Tanev has been a reliable shutdown guy who also came in undrafted.

There Are Also Some Younger Players Who Fit This Mould

The more recent wave of college-to-NHL success is worth noting, too. Bobby McMann (who used to be a Maple Leafs player), Collin Graf (of the San Jose Sharks), and Justin Hryckowian (of the Dallas Stars) all stepped into NHL roles fairly quickly after signing as UDFAs. This approach lets the Maple Leafs add NHL-ready depth without sacrificing long-term development of their top prospects.

If the Maple Leafs were aggressive about UDFA scouting every spring and summer, NCAA graduates, overlooked Europeans, and AHL late bloomers would all deserve a close look. They might be able to sign two or three players who could immediately help the bottom six, kill penalties, or provide steady minutes on the back end. Such moves would give the team more stability and flexibility without mortgaging the future.

Undrafted Players Might Not Replace Draftees, But They Can Help

Make no mistake, undrafted signings won’t replace elite first-round talent. But they can shore up the supporting cast, make life easier for the stars, and give the Leafs more depth without needing extra picks. With the prospect pool thinner than ideal, hunting where other teams aren’t looking might be one of the smartest ways for Toronto to rebuild depth quickly. Sometimes the best finds are the ones nobody else bothered to draft.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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