The Biggest Failure Yet From Ex-Leafs GM Kyle Dubas Currently Being Felt By the Organization

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with 12 selections and they worked under the guise that they had to hit it out of the park because they knew down the road they'd be dealing future assets in trades.

Then GM Kyle Dubas had a plan in action and that was looking for hidden gems or overlooked prospects because he believed that most teams, when looking back in history, often hit on those types of selections.

Fast forward to 2025 and the Maple Leafs have yet to reap the rewards of any of those picks.

Of course, first round pick Rodion Amirov unfortunately passed away after a courageous battle with brain cancer, but after that, the Leafs carried 11 unsuccessful prospects.

Within the next three rounds, the Leafs missed on nearly every pick, including second rounder Roni Hirvonen, third round selection Topi Niemela, who just signed overseas a few weeks ago, and fourth rounder William Villeneuve, who have all yet to play NHL games.

Following that was a string of players who either never made it far enough where the Leafs kept their signing rights or players still trying to cultivate a position with the Marlies like Ryan Tverberg. Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov is the lone bright spot as he looks to make in-roads after a strong rookie season in the AHL.

A lot of teams have been able to develop their prospects and use them in their lineup as cost effective players until their ELCs run out. With 0 NHL games from the 2020 draft class, it can truly be seen as a massive misstep and part of the reason as to why the Leafs have found it difficult to field balanced rosters.

After 2020, they held 3 picks in 2021, 5 picks in 2022, 3 picks in 2023, and last year, they held 8 picks. With the club trying to get over the hump every season, draft picks have become a common currency in trades and it's a trend that will likely continue in the coming years.

The 2020 draft is definitely a chapter in Leafs history that could have been written a lot better because as we look back on it, 5 years later, it definitely played a part in their lack of success.