Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects: Top 20 Young Leafs #16-20

Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

N0.19 – Carter Verhaeghe

By: Tim Chiasson

The 19th ranked Toronto Maple Leafs prospect in the system, voted by the EditorInLeaf.com writers, is Carter Verhaeghe, who served as the Niagara Ice Dogs captain.

Verhaeghe was drafted by the Leafs in the 3rd round, 82nd overall, during the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The 20 year-old center took rookie camp by storm last year, performing incredibly well and catching the eyes of many Maple Leafs scouts.

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Verhaeghe is a product of Watertown, ON and has played with the Ice Dogs for four seasons, and is no longer eligible for the OHL – which means Maple Leaf fans can watch him with the Toronto Marlies or, more likely, the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears where he will most likely battle Frederik Gauthier for the big minutes role this upcoming season.

He continued to progress during the season, known as a playmaker, Verhaeghe still put the puck in the back of the net with the Ice Dogs, producing 33 goals and 49 assists for 82 points in 68 games – best on his team and helped lead the Ice Dogs to a playoff berth.

He continued his stellar playmaking and point producing skills into the post-season; scoring six goals and setting up eight goals while playing responsible defensively. The Ice Dogs beat the Ottawa 67’s in six games, but then lost to the Memorial Cup Champions – Oshawa Generals (Newly minted Leafs Assistant Coach DJ Smith’s team) in five games.

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A bit more alignment between our writers with Verhaeghe as only 2 of us ranked him outside the Top 20 (25 and 22 respectively). Verhaeghe has undeniable skill but has enough holes and unpolished areas of his game that the risk vs reward of his future in the organization won’t be known for several years. Would not be surprising to see him rise quickly up this list next year if he adjusts quickly to the pro game, or to fall completely off as the Leafs continue to add high quality players through the beginning of their rebuild.

The scouting report on Verhaeghe is like any other ordinary scouting report, but what I like about him; is that he has had a position of leadership (like many Leaf draft picks). Most coaches and scouts say that his skating needs to be improved; he doesn’t have that strong first step.

The positives to his games are his top-notch playmaking vision to go along with good offensive instincts and positioning. He is a face-off ace and was used in most situations with the Ice Dogs.

Hopefully Verhaeghe can pan out to be a third line scoring center, only time will tell but with the proper development the Maple Leafs may have found a good pick in the third round.

Next: Number 18