Bulls/Leafs 1989 Draft

The Bulls and Leafs draft connection from 1989 was a bust for the Leafs for sure, but not so much for some of the Bulls Alumni involved.

Scott Thornton was drafted 3rd overall, but I don't think anyone other then the Leafs staff at the time, thought he would be a NHL Superstar , He only scored 62 goals in 171 games with Belleville. I think Thornton turned in to the NHLer he should have, a good tough two-way player , a third liner that could give you good minutes. Its thanks to the lock out that he missed being the 1st Belleville Bull to dress in 1000 NHL games. Scott and others trade out of Toronto brought Glen Anderson, Grant Fuhr, and Craig Berube. Anderson was later Traded to the NYR for Mike Gartner, Fuhr was traded to Buffalo that brought the last Leaf 50 goal scorer to town in Dave Andreychuk, and Berube well he left town in the Gilmour trade. Thornton won a Calder Cup playing with the Cape Breton Oilers in 92-93 under current Bulls Head Coach and GM George Burnett.

Rob Pearson left the Bulls for the Generals and peaked playing with Lindros when Eric was at his OHL best.

Steve Bancroft was a guy I thought for sure would have played in the NHL, he was tough, he could fight, hit and had a beauty of a shot from the point. It helps that he is from Madoc. and was also a Centurion. He still holds track and field records at CHSS. He never panned out in the NHL but the minor leagues were an other thing . He played in 1024 minor pro games, 546 AHL and 478 IHL. Winning a Calder Cup in 1998-99. In 2005-06 when playing with the Calgary Flames farm team Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, then Flames GM Darryl Sutter payed Bancroft a great complement saying he was that guy that was good enough for the NHL but you wanted him on your farm team to show all your kids how to be real pros.