It’s that time of year again – NHL draft time – and the Maple Leafs figure to be right in the thick of the action.

And when the draft activities kick off Friday and Saturday in Minnesota, Toronto could make a sizeable impact in a number of different ways.

For starters, the Leafs have the 25th and 30th overall selections (the first from Philadelphia, the second from Boston) and GM Brian Burke has long been rumoured to be interested in moving up in the draft order via a trade. Toronto could use one or both of those picks, or package a pick with a current roster player, to move up -  or they could also make a deal to acquire a front-line NHLer instead.

In any case, once it is the Leafs’ turn to pick, they’ll have no shortage of areas to address. The organization has improved its overall depth of prospects, but Toronto nevertheless was ranked 28th out of 30 NHL franchises in The Hockey News’ 2011 Future Watch ranking of team prospects.

The Leafs could use a prospect or two in goal, even though James Reimer has more or less locked up the starter’s role for next season, and even with Jonas Gustavsson and Jussi Rynnas providing competition for him.

Now that Tomas Kaberle has moved on, the Leafs also need some help on defense in terms of a puck-moving defenseman for the future. But given that they’ve got Luke Schenn, Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson, Keith Aulie and prospect Jake Gardiner in the mix, help for the blue-line may not be a priority.

The same can’t be said for help at forward. We all know Toronto doesn’t have an A-1, star centre. But beyond that fact, they need as much depth as possible both at center and on the wings.

Burke has repeatedly stated that his goal next season is to make the playoffs, and the way the Leafs finished the year, that goal is within reach. Toronto’s game plan on draft day could help them for the future, but don’t be shocked if they make a play for the present instead.