Toronto Maple Leafs: Monthly Prospect Update Vol. 1 – CHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs still have lots of exciting prospects.

There seems to be a trend where the teams that are rebuilding and far from contending usually have the best prospects, while the contenders have a thin prospect pool and not much to look forward to in the pipelines. That isn’t the case for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I’m going to be starting a series here at Editor in Leaf called Monthly Prospect Updates. It’s going to be a series that I publish at the beginning of each month where I provide you all with an update on how the future of the Maple Leafs is looking.

The series will be divided into four parts, covering prospects in the CHL, Europe, College/University, and the AHL respectively. The first part of November was very busy for me so I’m getting to this a little bit late, but without further ado, here’s the first part of the first edition. Let’s take a look at how our OHL prospects have been doing.

Zachary Bouthillier (G, 7th Round, 209th Overall in 2018)

Bouthillier was drafted in the final round of the 2018 NHL Draft last year. Playing for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens this season, he hasn’t been great throughout the first handful of games, posting a record of 3-3-1 with a GAA of 3.90 and a save percentage of .876. The Chambly, QC native just turned 19, meaning he’s got two more seasons of QMJHL eligibility left, including this season.

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (C, 3rd Round, 76th Overall in 2018)

SDA is easily one of the Leafs’ most intriguing prospects. Born on the cutoff date of September 15th, he’s the youngest player in the draft and yet he’s putting up some pretty impressive totals. So far in 2018, he’s put up 11 points in 18 games for the Peterborough Petes, a team that’s had lots of issues scoring goals. When asked who he tries to model his game after, SDA replied with current Leaf star Mitch Marner. Though he lacks size, he oozes skill and could be a valuable asset if he’s even half as good as Marner is.

Sean Durzi (D, 2nd Round, 52nd Overall in 2018)

Durzi is another interesting prospect. The Maple Leafs had the option to assign him to the Toronto Marlies this season, but opted to send him back to the OHL for his overage season. He’s currently playing on the top pairing for the Owen Sound Attack and has put up 10 points in 9 games thus far. He’s right-handed and has a solid all around game, so if he impresses in the AHL next season he could eventually end up being a solid future piece for the Maple Leafs.

Fedor Gordeev (D, 5th Round, 171st Overall in 2017)

Gordeev is Canadian, but everything else about him from his name to his face to his accent screams Russian. Gordeev is currently 19 years old and playing in his third full OHL season and has fared pretty well thus far. Despite not being known as an offensive defenseman, he’s managed to put up 10 points through 16 games. If he continues his impressive pace this year, it won’t be a surprise to see him ink an ELC with the Leafs.

Mac Hollowell (D, 4th Round, 118th Overall in 2018)

The Maple Leafs took a flyer on Hollowell as an overage defenseman who put up impressive points, and so far he’s lighting it up in his final OHL season with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds. He lacks size, standing at only 5’9 and 170lbs, but he’s lighting it up with 20 points in 17 games so far this season and could potentially get an entry level deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the AHL.

Filip Kral (D, 5th Round, 149th Overall in 2018)

A young Czech defenseman who was touted as having a solid two-way game and an ability to chip in offensively, Kral is off to a very solid start to the season. Playing with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL, he posted five points in five games after missing the first little bit due to an undisclosed injury in rookie camp. This is obviously a very small sample size, but if Kral continues his impressive pace, he could find himself with an entry level deal and a spot on the Marlies in the near future.

Ryan McGregor (C, 6th Round, 172nd Overall in 2017)

Since being drafted, McGregor has been touted as a very solid two way centre with decent offensive ability and outstanding leadership qualities. He was named alternate captain in just his second season and now wears the C for the Sarnia Sting. He currently has 17 points in 19 games for the Sting and was just named to Team OHL for the CIBC Canada/Russia series.

Ian Scott (G, 4th Round, 110th Overall in 2017)

Scott hasn’t been overly impressive following his draft year, but it seems that he’s finally broken out this season, and in a big way. Playing for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, Scott has put up incredible stats including a record of 14-1-0 with a GAA of 1.60 and a save percentage of .941. Maybe it’s the fact that he finally has a good team in front of him, but regardless, he’s really starting to make a name for himself in the pipelines. It’s entirely possible we see Scott represent Canada at the World Juniors this season.

Riley Stotts (C, 3rd Round, 83rd Overall in 2018)

After an unfortunately slow start to the season, Stotts is beginning to find his game with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, putting up seven points in 13 games to start the season. Stotts is a very good playmaking centre with a knack for scoring goals as well, so if he can continue to put up points then it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up in the Toronto Maple Leafs system.

Thanks for reading! Keep an eye out for part two where we’ll take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects playing overseas.