CHICAGO – By the time Fedor Gordeev was selected by the Maple Leafs, 141 picks into a 217 pick draft, the stands at the United Center had largely emptied out.



Most of the kids going in even the third and fourth rounds weren’t there when their names were called. But Gordeev — a massive defenceman who played in the OHL with Flint last season — had anxiously stuck it out. His dream was to be picked, and he wasn’t concerned how high he went or who wanted him.



But when it happened, he was emotional. His beloved, hometown team took him midway through the fifth round, after 2.5 hours of waiting on Day 2.



The big man was in tears in the stands.



“Unbelievable. Honestly speechless,” Gordeev said. “I started crying, not going to lie. Unbelievable.”



Gordeev is a long shot to ever play in the NHL. And, sure, most fifth round picks fit that description. He has incredible physical gifts — at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds he’s obviously a specimen — but he admitted right away that his skating and pivoting are areas he needs to improve.



He’s certainly a nice story, though. Born in Omsk, Russia, his family moved to the GTA when he was seven years old to find “a better opportunity.” They were never one of the many high income, white collar families that dominate minor hockey here: His father is an HVAC technician and his mother a teacher.



Gordeev — who is a big Nikita Zaitsev fan and said he would like to play for Russia internationally but has never been asked — went to Michael Power/St. Joseph High School out near Pearson Airport and was raised in the local player factory, the GTHL.



One of his connections there helped get him drafted. Years ago, in minor bantam, he played with the son of Lindsay Hofford — now the Leafs’ director of Eastern area scouting — with North York. Another Leafs scout, Garth Malarchuk, had his eye on him for a long time, too.



So Gordeev knew they were interested.



The question is why?



***



Day 2 of the NHL draft is always a crapshoot. Heck, the end of the first round often can be.



Just look at the difference in average value derived from picks 1 through 15 and those around 141, where the Leafs took Gordeev:...