In the 2015 pre draft Black Book, there was an interesting quote from an NHL scout to the effect that Bracco could be drafted at a wide range of positions, from early second to the fourth rouund. Bracco ended up being drafted at 61 overall, the last pick of the second round that year. That was pretty much the middle of the range the scout had predicted. That's worth remembering about Bracco; he was actually a late second rounder. Some publications had him as a first rounder and there was a group here which wanted him at the #24 pick the Leafs owned going into the draft. (I always felt that a couple of the writers about Bracco needed to take a cold shower.). But despite all that, he wasn't a first rounder; he was a late second rounder and we ought to have the kind of expectations for him that we have for other picks taken in that range.
I think you can adopt one of two different strategies for drafting in roughly that area. You can take the all around player who is pretty good at everything, but not superior in any particular area. Or, on the other hand, you can take a player who has NHL level talent in at least one area but obvious weaknesses in other areas. The Leafs took the latter strategy with Bracco and, FWIW, I like the strategy. He clearly has NHL level vision, passing skill and offensive sense. Bob M called it "elite" the other day on 1050. But that means there would be flaws also, size and strength, top end skating speed, defensive play. There were also rumour about some attitude issues but those remain just that, rumours. Those areas need work. By the way, the same is true about the other picks the Leafs made shortly after Bracco. Dzierkals and Nielsen, though the particular strengths and weaknesses are different.
Some of us have had unrealistic expectations. There are posters who think Bracco ought to be with the Marlies, for example. (Would it be useful to Bracco's development to have him sitting the number of games the arguably more advanced Timashov has been sitting?) Very rightly, IMO, the Leafs kept him in junior to develop his game. By the way, developing your game doesn't only mean working on your weaknesses; it also means enhancing your strengths. To a degree this has happened. Bracco was a very good player on offense last year. This year he is dominant on O. That is clear development. I doubt that Bracco is the 6'0", 190, that a member of his extended family has claimed but he does look a little bigger and stronger to me. It isn't all blue skies, of course. I'm disappointed to hear from the posters who watch him regularly that he isn't showing much greater interest in the defensive side of the game.
But it is only a season and a half since the draft. He has time to develop. In junior he is such an offensive force that no coach is likely to bench him. I doubt that will be the case in the AHL. Some time on the pine or in the press box may be very persuasive for a kid who has doubtless been a star on every team he has played on.
Bracco may not make the NHL. Most late second rounders don't, after all. If he does, it may not be with the Leafs. Putting him in a package for defensive help may be the right move. You have to give something to get something in a trade. But there is no reason to lose patience at this point.
