Welcome back to my Toronto Maple Leafs monthly prospect update series.
Today, we’re going to be looking at who the Toronto Maple Leafs have going for them playing in the States. Last time we took a look at their European prospects, where a couple of names stuck out. These names included Pontus Holmberg and Eemeli Rasanen.
Without further ado, here’s a little update on the baby Leafs’ playing in the States. When I say little, I literally mean little. Be warned that this article will be incredibly short.
J.D. Greenway (D, 3rd Round, 72nd Overall in 2016)
The Maple Leafs drafted the tall standing New York native in the third round back in 2016. Playing for the US National Team Development Program in his draft year, Greenway had committed to the University of Wisconsin for the following season and spent two years there, where he never really got on his feet.
After posting a total of 10 points through 46 games in his two NCAA seasons, Greenway signed with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL where he’s totaled 11 points in 16 games thus far. It appears Greenway is much more comfortable playing in the USHL and will look to continue his development there.
Dakota Joshua (5th Round, 128th Overall in 2014)
Joshua is easily the oldest of the Leafs prospects. Drafting him all the way back in 2014, the Michigan native wasted no time committing to Ohio State University and pursuing both an education and his hockey career there. The 6’2 centre has actually posted some pretty solid totals during his time there, with his best season coming two years ago where he put up 35 points in 33 games.
Joshua currently has six points in 11 games in his senior season with OSU and could potentially earn himself an entry-level deal if he finishes strong.
Ryan O’Connell (D, 7th Round, 203rd Overall in 2017)
O’Connell has certainly taken an unusual path in his hockey career. The Maple Leafs actually drafted him while he was playing high school hockey for St. Andrew’s College, which isn’t such a foreign concept in the States but it’s vastly unheard of in Canada. He spent the following season playing for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and recently committed to Ohio State University, where he currently has 0 points through 11 games.
Joseph Woll (G, 3rd Round, 62nd Overall in 2016)
Yep. The Leafs drafted two American prospects ten picks apart in 2016. Woll has so far looked very solid in his three seasons playing for Boston College of the NCAA. His team hasn’t been overly good this season, but Woll has managed to put up a goals against average of 2.52 this season with a save percentage of .914, despite his record of 2-5-1.
With fellow goaltending prospect Ian Scott having a major breakout year in the WHL, it appears the Maple Leafs have some minor league talent to evaluate in between the pipes.
That will do it for our look at American Leafs prospects. The Leafs actually had a pair of American prospects that they just lost rights to within the past year or so. These include J.J. Piccinich and Nolan Vesey. This article is incredibly short but in my eyes, no prospect should go unnoticed.
Thanks for reading. The fourth and final part of this monthly series will take a look at the Toronto Marlies, where the Maple Leafs have tons of potential talent playing.
All statistics obtained from hockeydb.com