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Toronto Maple Leafs Top Prospects List Part One

By James Tanner

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Timothy Liljegren poses for a portrait after being selected 17th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Timothy Liljegren poses for a portrait after being selected 17th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 22: Kerby Rychel of the Toronto Maple Leafs poses for his official headshot for the 2016-2017 season on September 22, 2016 at the MasterCard Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Bielaski /NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 22: Kerby Rychel of the Toronto Maple Leafs poses for his official headshot for the 2016-2017 season on September 22, 2016 at the MasterCard Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Bielaski /NHLI via Getty Images) /

# 9 Kerby Rychel

Kerby Rychel is the one player on this list who the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t draft.  He was acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Scott Harington, which makes him part of the Phil Kessel trade. 

Originally picked 19th overall in the 2013 draft, Rychel led the Marlies in scoring last year, with 19 goals and 52 points in 73 games.  While that led the Marlies, many players (Kapanen, Griffith, Leipsic and a couple others) scored more points per game.

At the NHL level, Rychel isn’t going to be a huge scorer, so if he’s going to make it it’s going to be as a grinder who chips in with the occasional goal.

It is hard to gauge his defensive abilities when there aren’t readily available advanced stats for the AHL.  One thing is for sure: he is going to have to take way less penalties if he’s going to be an effective NHL player.

One of two players on this list with NHL experience, Rychel had a 32 game tryout with the Blue Jackets the year before last.  During limited time, he put up two goals and nine points.  He had a terrible 45% possession rating.

Rychel has potential, but he’ll be 23 at the start of this season and as a winger on a team deep at that position, his chances of making the Leafs only seem to be diminishing.  To be sure, he should have an NHL future, but it may not be in Toronto, much like Johnsson.

Rychel out-ranks Johnsson on this list by virtue of being closer to the NHL (and having already played there) but Johnsson (in my opinion at least) has both a higher potential and a better chance of becoming a Leaf regular.

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