European Prospects Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Artemi Panarin, Russia

Undrafted free agent Russian winger Panarin is a great all around player with good finish and excellent playmaking ability. He put up a great stat line this year in the KHL, scoring 26 goals and adding 36 assists in 54 games played.

The 23 year-old playmaker would slot in as a third line or second line forward on the Leafs next year if signed and would not be out of place. If he can adapt to the North American Ice, he will become an excellent third line scorer and good second line player. He can kill penalties and play on the power play. Panarin should be on President Brendan Shannahan’s shopping list this summer – compare him to a faster Nikolai Kulemin.

Next: #1 Centre Radovan Pulis, HKM Zvolen, Slovakia