European Prospects Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign

Dec 31, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis at a press conference during practice the day before the Winter Classic hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium. Phaneuf signed a 7-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

In this slide show, I will take a look at some European talent across the pond, and prospects the Leafs could sign in the upcoming months to add a few more players to their cupboard.

Some of these players have been drafted, but never signed a contract with their respective NHL teams, and those NHL teams still have their rights. Others were undrafted and can be signed at any point in time. We will look at ten targets that would fit the Maple Leafs system.

As always, leave your thoughts in the comment section below and let us know which of the players you’d like to see wearing blue and white in the future.

Next: #10 Defenceman Tim Heed, Sweden

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Tim Heed, Sweden

Tim Heed is an right-handed offensive-minded defenseman who made the transition from forward to defence and has performed well. He has a good shot from the point and a highly-skilled playmaker from the blueline. Useful on the powerplay and has good mobility.

Heed would be a top defence man if he played for the Marlies and a bottom six defence man used on the second power play unit for the Leafs if he were to play next season. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks and is under a three year entry level contract that expires in 2016-2017, which is why he is rated low.

Next: #9 Left Wing Jakob Lilja, Rogle BK, Sweden

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Jakob Lilja, Sweden

Lilja is a great team player with an impressive work ethic. He is a great all-round player with uncanny vision and an average playmaking ability, he is not the most flashy player around but he gets the job done and always contributes to his team.

He would compare to a Leo Komarov type player, but with more playmaking ability. He recorded 23 goals and 12 assists for 34 points in 51 games played. Lilja went undrafted in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Next: #8 Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev, CSKA Moskva, Russia

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

Zaitsev is 23 years-old and a big part of the CSKA Moskva defence crop. He is a fine passer and has an okay shot from the point. He could improve his physical game and add some bulk to his 6’1″ 187 lbs. frame. Zaitsev plays a smart two-way game.

The Russian defence man recorded 12 goals and 23 assists in 57 games played for CSKA Moskva this season, and would be able to handle bottom six/depth defence man in the NHL next year and a top 4 defence man with the Marlies.

Next: #7 Centre Linus Froberg, BIK Karlskoga, Sweden

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Linus Froberg, Sweden

Froberg is a 21 year-old playmaking wizard. His hands are smooth and has great skating ability, his vision is uncanny and has average size, standing at 6’0″ and 197 lbs. Froberg shoots left and can play centre or the left wing.

He would be a great second or third line player for the Marlies next year and at 21, he still has time to develop his play on the North American ice. Froberg went undrafted in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Next: #6 Goalie Andrej Kosaristan, HC Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Andej Kosaristan, Slovakia

The 21 year-old Slovakian-born goaltender has played fantastic this season, recording a 2.08 GAA and .921 SV% in 26 games played.

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Kosaristan never got a chance to play for Slovakia at any international level, but has improved between the pipes tremendously already, and has a high ceiling. He is a smaller goalie at 6’0″ and 176 lbs. and is a hybrid goaltender. Kosaristan is good with angles and battles hard. The gamble would be worth the $800,000 you would have to pay him over the next three years.

If the Maple Leafs were to sign him, he would have to put on at least 10 lbs., and may not get a sniff at the AHL or NHL for the next couple of years – let him grow and develop over in Slovakia.

Next: #5 Centre Tomas Filippi, Bili Tygri Liberec, Czech Republic

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Tomas Filippi, Czech Republic

Filippi is a 22 year-old Czech-born centreman who played for Bili Tygri Liberec of the Extraliga and has now signed a contract with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Filippi had a standout season with Bili Tygri Liberec, as he put up 40 points (16 goals and 24 assists) in 52 games played and led his team in points, goals and assists. He has tremendous playmaking ability and is a true finisher. His skating is good but he is lacks skill in small spaces. Filippi played for the Czech Republic at the 2011-2012 World Junior Championship where he recorded four goals and no assists in four games played.

He would automatically plug in as a top-six forward with the Marlies if he were to play next season.

Next: #4 Winger Jonas Donskoi, Karpat , Finland

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Jakub Jerabek, Czech Republic

Another undrafted free agent, Jerabek is a true offensive defence man who also takes care of things in his own end. He has a great first pass out of the defensive zone and great vision and smarts to go along with filthy playmaking skills from the point. He finished the year with 19 goals and 30 assists in 58 games played with HC Plzen while wearing the Assistant Captain patch.

Jerabek was captain of Czech Republic in U-20 World Junior Championship and produced tremendously, scoring one goal and adding seven assists in seven games played.

He could quarterback any AHL power play and could be the sixth defence man used on the power play in the NHL next year and should be a hot commodity when Free Agency opens this summer.

Next: #2 Left Wing Artemi Panarin, SKA St. Petersburg, Russia

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

Int’l Hockey Crowd (s.yume – Flickr) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/]Radovan Pulis, Slovakia

Pulis is a 23 year old Slovakian-born forward who plays a complete game at a high level. He spent some time in CHL with the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan, where he amassed nine points in 40 games played. He is another undrafted free agent, but has improved his all around play the past five years.

He is a player who owns a perfect offensive instinct and nose for net. He has great potential and is great shooter while using physical game to his advantage. He has had a red flag due to injuries in the past, but seems to have outgrown them.

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