So, you want to understand the weight of the first overall pick in the National Hockey League? And not just anywhere—you want to know what it means for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s a fascinating, and sometimes painful, slice of club history. Landing the top selection is supposed to be a franchise-altering event, a golden ticket to a generation-defining superstar. But for the Leafs, the story is more nuanced. It’s a tale of immense pressure, sky-high expectations, and a complex legacy that intertwines with the team’s long championship drought.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the complete history and impact of the Maple Leafs’ first overall selections. We’ll look at the players, the eras they defined, and the undeniable weight of the blue and white jersey. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of how these pivotal moments have shaped one of the league’s most iconic Original Six franchises. Let’s get started.
What You Need to Get Started
Before we dive into the step-by-step history, let’s make sure you’ve got the right context. You don’t need to be a stats wizard, but a few things will help this all make sense:
A Basic Timeline: Knowing the broad strokes of Maple Leafs history, especially the post-1967 Stanley Cup Championship era, is key. That last Cup win is the dividing line in much of this narrative. Understanding the Draft Lottery: The process for awarding the first overall pick has changed dramatically over the decades, from a straightforward worst-to-first system to the complex weighted lottery of today. This context explains how the Leafs ended up with these picks. Patience for "What-Ifs": Brace yourself. The history of sports, especially for a team with a long Stanley Cup drought, is filled with alternate timelines and missed opportunities. We’ll acknowledge them, but focus on what actually happened.
Alright, with that in mind, let’s walk through the history.
Step 1: Acknowledge the Ancient History (The Pre-1967 Era)
The Maple Leafs’ early history with the first pick is almost from a different universe. The NHL Amateur Draft (as it was originally called) began in 1963, but for its first few years, it was an afterthought compared to the fierce competition for teenage prospects in the Junior ranks.
The Pick: In 1963, the Leafs used the very first NHL draft pick in history to select Garry Monahan. Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs made the first-ever NHL draft selection. The Impact: The context is crucial. Monahan was a promising junior, but the draft was not the primary path to talent. The Leafs, as a powerhouse dynasty still winning championships (their last title came in 1967), didn't rely on him. He played parts of three seasons with Toronto before a long career elsewhere. The impact of this "first overall" was minimal because the system itself was in its infancy. This era is a reminder of how drastically the importance of the draft has changed.
Step 2: Weather the Drought & The "Almost" Picks (1967-1984)
This period defines the modern Maple Leafs' struggle. Following the 1967 Stanley Cup Championship, the team entered its now-famous championship drought. Yet, despite often poor finishes, the hockey gods (or the draft rules) rarely granted them the top pick.
The Narrative: This is a long chapter of near-misses. The Leafs frequently drafted high—in the top three or five—but just missed the first overall spot. They watched as rivals selected legends like Gilbert Perreault (1970), Guy Lafleur (1971), and Mario Lemieux (1984) with the picks immediately before theirs. The Impact: The "what-if" surrounding Lafleur is particularly haunting for fans. The Leafs picked second in 1971, taking defenseman Bob Neely. Imagining a 1970s Leafs team with Lafleur is a classic, painful alternate history. This era ingrained a sense of misfortune into the franchise's relationship with the draft lottery, a feeling that would persist for decades.
Step 3: The Franchise-Altering Selections (1985 & 2006)
Finally, the lottery balls fell in Toronto's favor. Twice, in this span, the Maple Leafs held the golden ticket. The outcomes, however, were a study in contrasts.
The 1985 Pick: Wendel Clark The Selection: With the first overall pick, the Leafs chose a dynamic, hard-hitting, goal-scoring winger from the Saskatoon Blades. He wasn't the consensus #1 (Craig Simpson was), but the Leafs went with heart and skill. The Impact: Clark’s impact was immediate and emotional. He became the heart, soul, and captain of the team. He provided identity and fight during some rough years. While his career was marred by injuries, he remains perhaps the most beloved Leaf of the post-1967 era. His selection was a cultural reset, giving fans a true icon to rally around. You can explore more about the leaders and strategies from different eras in our look at legendary Maple Leafs coaches and their legacies.
The 2006 Pick: Traded for Tuukka Rask The Move: This is the monumental "what-if." Holding the first overall pick (which would be used to select Erik Johnson), General Manager John Ferguson Jr. traded it to the Boston Bruins for goaltender Andrew Raycroft. The Bruins later used a subsequent pick acquired from Toronto to select franchise goalie Tuukka Rask. The Impact: This is arguably the most infamous transaction in modern Leafs history. Raycroft struggled, while Rask became a Vezina winner and Stanley Cup champion for the rival Bruins. This move became the poster child for a period of managerial instability for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and set the franchise back years. It’s a masterclass in how not to use a first overall pick.
Step 4: The Modern Savior & The Matthews Era (2016-Present)
After a decade of playoff misses, the hockey universe finally delivered a transformative moment to the corner of Bay and Lakeshore.
The 2016 Pick: Auston Matthews The Selection: In a draft lottery hailed as one of the most consequential in NHL history, the Leafs won the right to select first overall. The choice was the generational, goal-scoring centerman from Arizona, Auston Matthews. The Impact: Matthews’ impact cannot be overstated. From scoring four goals in his debut to winning the Calder, the Rocket Richard Trophy (multiple times), the Hart Trophy, and becoming the face of the league, he has been the catalyst for the entire modern era. His arrival, alongside other high draft picks, marked the end of the "Shanaplan" rebuild and the beginning of the "Core Four" era. He is the undisputed superstar the franchise had been craving since the 1960s. The expectations shifted instantly from hoping to make the playoffs to expecting a deep run toward the championship.
Step 5: Assessing the Legacy and Current Pressure
Today, the history of these picks directly informs the pressure-cooker environment at Scotiabank Arena.
The Weight of History: Every first-round of the playoffs exit is measured against the investment of draft capital, especially the 2016 lottery win. The narrative is clear: a player of Matthews’ caliber, acquired with such a rare pick, is meant to end championship droughts. The Team Construction: The selection of Matthews allowed the Leafs to build their entire roster strategy around an elite, homegrown offensive core. It influences contract decisions, coaching strategies under Sheldon Keefe, and the perpetual battle against tough Atlantic Division rivals like Boston and Florida. The Unfinished Story: The ultimate impact of the Matthews selection is still being written. His individual legacy is secure, but the franchise legacy—the one tied directly to ending the Cup drought—hangs in the balance. The history of the Leafs' first overall picks will ultimately be defined by whether this era culminates in a parade.
Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid
When discussing this topic, it’s easy to fall into some classic traps. Here’s how to keep the analysis sharp:
DO: Contextualize each pick within the draft rules and hockey landscape of its time. Judging the 1963 pick by 2024 standards is unfair. DON'T: Get lost only in the "what-ifs," especially about 1971. It’s a fun fan discussion, but it can overshadow the concrete analysis of the picks that were actually made. DO: Separate the player's individual success from the team's success. Wendel Clark is a legend, and the team didn't win a Cup with him. Both statements are true. DON'T: Underestimate the cultural impact of a pick. Clark’s value went far beyond points per game, just as the 2006 trade’s damage went beyond save percentage. DO: Recognize that the Matthews pick operates under a completely different set of expectations (Cup or bust) than the Clark pick (bring hope and identity to a struggling franchise).
For a deeper dive into how different management eras have approached building teams, check out our comprehensive Toronto Maple Leafs coaching history.
Your Maple Leafs First Overall Picks Checklist
To quickly recap our journey through this pivotal piece of club history, here’s your essential checklist:
- Start in 1963: Recognize Garry Monahan as the historical footnote—the first-ever NHL draft pick, but with minimal impact on the Leafs’ dynasty.
- Navigate the "Near-Miss" Years: Understand the frustration of the 1970s & 80s, where picking just shy of first overall (missing on Lafleur, etc.) became a defining theme of the early drought years.
- Evaluate the Emotional Pick (1985): Acknowledge Wendel Clark’s selection as a heart-over-head decision that gave the franchise a beloved captain and icon during a dark period.
- Analyze the Catastrophic Trade (2006): Remember the trade of the pick for Andrew Raycroft as a landmark managerial failure whose negative repercussions lasted for a decade.
- Understand the Modern Catalyst (2016): Recognize Auston Matthews’ selection as the franchise-altering event that launched the current competitive window and raised the ultimate goal to ending the Stanley Cup drought.
- Connect History to Present Pressure: See how this entire history fuels the intense scrutiny on the current core and the "Cup or bust" mentality that surrounds the team today.
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