Vladimir Bobylyov
Tolpar Ufa (MHL): 18 games, 8 goals, 18 points
Vladimir Bobylyov will not be in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization next season. A fifth round pick, 133nd overall, Bobylyvov was drafted in 2016 and is 20 years old.
Bobylyov is the only prospect on this list where it would be a shock to see him even get an AHL contract. Since his draft, the Russian power forward has stagnated and shown little to no signs of improvement.
He signed in the KHL after the draft but was sent down to the VHL after lacklustre play. Bobylyov subsequently rejoined the Victoria Royals to finish the year.
Even after playing against men all year, Bobylyov returned to the WHL and scored at almost the exact same rate (0.93 PPG in 15/16, 0.94 PPG in 16/17). The only difference was that he scored just nine goals in 38 games in his second year with Victoria, compared to 28 in 72 the year previous.
So, after this disappointing Draft +1 season, Bobylyov was already behind the proverbial eight ball heading into this final year. The Leafs were looking for him to play pro in North America this year, being sent to Marlies camp upon being cut from the main camp. Bobylyov didn’t show enough to stay in the AHL and was assigned to the Orlando Solar Bears’ camp, where he played in the preseason.
Rather than sticking around in the ECHL, Bobylyov opted to go back to Russia, basically ending his tenure in the Leafs organization. His totals this season haven’t even been impressive either. Bobylyov played just three games in the KHL and 11 in the VHL, where he scored just one assist. As an older prospect in the MHL (Russia’s junior league), Bobylyov has played at a point-per-game pace. Given his age, however, it is of little significance.
The Leafs swung and missed on this fifth rounder.