Lamoriello 'extremely pleased' with Leafs' prospect pool

The boss is impressed.

In attending the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Mich., Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello got his latest opportunity to put eyes on the team's next wave of talent.

Fortunately for the up-and-comers, the legendary GM was more than satisfied with what he saw.

"We're extremely pleased," Lamoriello told Mark Masters of TSN on Friday. "I think our scouting staff has just done a tremendous job (with) the prospects that we have. We don't have room for a lot of them, so hopefully they can push some of the veterans."

Among the players taking part in the camp is defenseman Timothy Liljegren, who the Maple Leafs selected 17th overall in this year's draft. His presence wasn't lost on Lamoriello either.

"Last year, he had mono, so he missed quite a bit of the year," Lamoriello said. "Where he is today, and what we've seen of him, we're happy."

Liljegren's selection was widely considered a keen move by the Maple Leafs, as the Swedish blue-liner was seen as a top talent in this year's draft prior to a bout of illness that forced him out of the lineup and knocked him down the draft ranks.

The Maple Leafs' success at the draft tables in recent years has been no secret, as the club selected Auston Matthews with the first pick in 2016, after choosing Mitch Marner fourth overall in 2015, and fellow forward William Nylander with the eighth choice in 2014.

All three finished among the top six in Calder Trophy voting last season, while Matthews was the first Maple Leafs player to take home Rookie of the Year honors since 1966.

If Liljegren can have half of the impact of any of the aforementioned three, his selection will be another big win by the Maple Leafs.

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