William Nylander is unquestionably Toronto’s top prospect
Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Every Tuesday throughout the NHL season we will be updating you on the development, potential and realistic expectations for key Toronto Maple Leafs prospects with up-to-date stats, analysis and scouting reports.
This week on the Prospect Report I though we’d take a slightly different approach. Instead of focusing on one player, we are going to look at the Leafs top prospects by position. We have already done deeper work ups on some of these prospects in past editions of the Prospect Report, so I will also include thoughts about the status of the position in the Leafs system as a whole.
Next: Building From The Net Out
Goalie: Antoine Bibeau
We did a deeper dive into Bibeau two weeks ago, you can read that article here.
Standing at 6’1 Bibeau has the typical size of what the NHL looks for in goal tenders now-a-days. He has a very high level of technical play and despite his size is a very athletic goalie capable of spectacular saves. Consistency is his biggest area of need, as well as proving he can play often and for long stretches. Bibeau very much remains a work in progress, but his ceiling is rather high for such a late round pick.
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Upside: No.1 Goalie with clutch playoff pedigree
Realistic Projection: Great 1A/1B platoon goalie who can play 35-50 games
Number of Prospects: 3 – Bibeau, Christopher Gibson, Garret Sparks
Number of Prospects with Realistic Shot at NHL play: 1, Bibeau
Need for Position at NHL level by Leafs: Not urgent
With only three prospects at the position there isn’t a lot for the Leafs to draw from here. Gibson and Sparks have both shown some flashes but neither has the kind of ceiling to be anything more than a fringe NHL backup at this point based on their bodies of work. Antoine Bibeau, although having proven at the CHL level that he can be elite, still has a long way to go to reach that level of potential, and it is not assured that he will get anywhere near it.
Next: The Defence
Defence: Stuart Percy
We’ve all gotten a taste of Percy at the NHL level when he got an early season call up and looked right at home with the Leafs. He boasts excellent vision, a quick wrist shot, excellent skating – especially his ability to pivot the puck out of danger. He is extremely calm under pressure which is a talent desperately needed on the Leafs blue line and has a remarkable ability to get the puck quickly out of his own end whether it be with a quick pass or his skating. In order to hit his true potential Percy needs to continue building strength and working on consistency in his own end, but the Leafs have a real player on their hands here.
Upside: Good No.3 Puck Moving Dman, capable of 35+ points
Realistic Projection: Good two-way, puck moving No.4/5 Dman
NHL Ready: 2015-16
NHL Player Comparable: Paul Martin (But a much better skater)
Overall Position Rankings: A-
Number of Prospects: 10 – Led by – Percy, Matt Finn and Rinat Valiev
Number of Prospects with Realistic Shot at NHL play: 7 – Percy, Valiev, Viktor Loov, Tom Nilsson, Petter Granberg, Andrew MacWilliam and Matt Finn
Need for Position at NHL level by Leafs: Help Wanted, Apply Immediately
This is one area where the Leafs have a lot of talent, which is good because the NHL team desperately needs the help on defence. One area that none of these prospects really cover is a true top pairing guy. The Leafs have one already in Morgan Rielly, but Percy, Loov and Valiev project at 3/4 guys and everyone else as a 5/6 Dman. Having that kind of depth at such a key position is a massive asset, but the Leafs need another blue chip top prospect here.
Next: Left Wing
Left Wing: Josh Leivo
Josh Leivo is a naturally gifted athlete whose size, skating ability and affinity to score goals allows him to play a variety of roles on a team. He protects the puck down low extremely well and as a right shot, comfortable playing the left side, often finds the seam on cross crease and one-timer plays to score easy goals. He doesn’t mind driving the net, or standing in the crease causing havoc on the power play and has good hand eye coordination. Not a playmaker by default, but because of his goal scorer instincts often takes coverage off of teammates and then makes the smart play to them.
Upside: 2nd line 20+ goal, 50+ point power forward
Number of Prospects with Realistic Shot at NHL play: 2, Leivo, Brendan Leipsic
Need for Position at NHL level by Leafs: Not urgent, but there is at least one spot to be won at training camp
The Leafs don’t have a lot of depth at the position, but both Leivo and Brendan Leipsic have very strong chances to be serviceable NHL players in the near future. Neither have elite upside, but with JVR still not in his prime that isn’t a necessity for the organization at this point.
Next: Center of things
Center: Greg McKegg
Greg McKegg was last weeks spotlight for Prospect Report, you can read the in-depth break down of him here
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Greg McKegg is a smart, human embodiment of will power and sheer determination. He is a natural goal scorer and good playmaker, capable of finding his teammates in tight. Capable of playing a full 200 ft game, his defensive instincts still need some fine tuning at the pro level.
Upside: Top 6 two-way scoring forward, 20+ goals, 50+ points
Realistic Projection: 3rd line checking center that can score
NHL Ready: 2016-17
NHL Player Comparable: Mike Richards
Overall Position Rankings: B-
Number of Prospects: 8
Number of Prospects with Realistic Shot at NHL play: 5, led by McKegg, Sam Carrick, Frederik Gauthier, Ryan Rupert and Carter Verhaeghe
Need for Position at NHL level by Leafs: Elite, top 6 offensive centers with size? Yes. Bottom 6 defensively accountable centers? You can never have too many, but the Leafs don’t desperately need them now either.
For those thinking why wasn’t Nylander here? It’s because in the NHL he is going to be a winger, not a center. Taking him away from the Leafs center position really thins it out. Even though the Leafs have potentially up to 5 NHL capable players, all of them except for McKegg and possibly Verhaeghe are going to be defensively accountable bottom 6 guys. Which is great; Cup contending NHL teams needs those guys, but the lack of high end talent hurts the score here.
Next: Right Wing
Right Wing: William Nylander
The first truly elite offensive player Toronto has drafted since Nazem Kadri, Nylander has a very high ceiling and a world full of elite hands and skating talent. He has that special kind of hockey sense and feel for the game where plays just seem to develop around him. Skating is elite, as are his hands, capable of highlight reel plays every time he touches the ice. Nylander needs some more time to adjust to the North American ice and bigger, stronger defenders, but he will be in the NHL sooner than later.
Upside: Top 20 scorer in the NHL
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-4Toronto Marlies in strong position heading into second half of season /
Realistic Projection: 2nd line 60+ power play specialist
NHL Ready: 2016-17
NHL Player Comparable: Patrick Kane
Overall Position Rankings: A
Number of Prospects: 6
Number of Prospects with Realistic Shot at NHL play: 3, led by Nylander, Connor Brown and Andreas Johnson
Need for Position at NHL level by Leafs: Depending on if Kessel is moved, could be 2 or 3 positions available come training camp.
This is a position that the Leafs are loaded with both role players and potentially high end players. With Nylander, Brown and Johnson they have a potentially deadly 1st, 2nd and 3rd line right wing locked up for the foreseeable future.
Overall the Leafs have done a fantastic job of gathering potential gems in the late rounds the last few drafts, but are hurting in the high-end, blue chip prospects department. This is exactly why this rebuild is coming at the right time, a few years of really high picks results in the much needed top end prospects the pipeline needs. a sure fire starting goaltender, top pairing Dman and top line center should be the Leafs priorities in the near future.
Next week we’ll continue to break down the Leaf’s prospect pipeline.
As always, feel free to comment below or reach out to me on twitter @TorrinBatchelor as you can never have too many conversations about hockey in a day!
