Drafted to the NHL by the Leafs 4th overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Iafrate was immediately graduated to the NHL in the 1984-85 NHL season, like many other Leafs prospect through the 1980's, as the team was in its worst slump ever. The graduation was probably a bit too soon for the young Iafrate (like it was for many others), and although he was a skilled player, he often was overmatched by bigger and more experienced forwards.