Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects at the 2019 World Juniors

When the 2019 World Juniors kicks off on Boxing Day, a few prospects in the Toronto Maple Leafs system will be present.

The holiday season is in full swing which is no doubt an exciting time for any hockey fan. Christmas Day is just around the corner, meaning that the World Juniors are almost here.

In the 2019 edition of the annual tournament, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have four of their prospects playing at the tournament representing their home country. It would have been five had it not been for an injury that Timothy Liljegren suffered a few weeks prior.

Nonetheless, many of the Leafs prospects that will be heading to British Columbia have quite a bit of hype surrounding their game in the immediate and long-term. From the team’s 2018 first-round pick to one of the top CHL goalies and everything in between, the Leafs prospects that will be present will no doubt be exciting to watch.

In today’s post, we’ll briefly look over all four prospects from the Leafs organization that will be playing in the 2019 World Juniors.

Rasmus Sandin

What else is there to say about Sandin that hasn’t already been said. All season long he has been nothing short of sensational for the Toronto Marlies.

The easiest way to describe his game is that he has such a high hockey IQ and is a very efficient player at both ends of the ice. He has been a key aspect of the Marlies young blue line and it is safe to say they would be in a much worse position had he decided to play elsewhere this year.

So far this season, Sandin has recorded 5 goals, 5 assists, and 10 points in just 18 games played. Considering he is only 18-years-old, those are very impressive numbers for a player his age and a defenseman to boot.

The 2018-1st-round-pick will be playing a key role for his native country of Sweden and is one of the younger members of their defence. During the pre-tournament, he picked up an assist on an overtime winner which was a pretty nifty one.

Considering his rising stock value and impact on the Marlies, it is safe to assume that Sandin will be one of the most watched players in this tournament. If his strong play so far this season is any indication, don’t be surprised if he performs exceptionally well in the coming days ahead.

Pontus Holmberg

Another member of Team Sweden at this tournament, Holmberg was the Leafs 6th round pick in the most recent NHL draft. So far this season he has been playing effectively while flying under the radar.

He isn’t a tall player, standing at 5’10” tall, but he more than makes up for his lacking hight with his quick speed and evasiveness. With the modern hockey game revolving around players who are smaller and use their speed to make skilled plays, he has the potential to be prototypical bottom-6 scoring forward.

He is 19-years-old and playing in the Swedish Hockey League, which is quite an accomplishment considering his young age. He has recorded 3 goals, 4 assists, and 7 points in 24 games with the Vaxjo Lakers HC. While those numbers won’t jump out of the page for most people, it’s still impressive all things considered.

Holmberg was one of Sweden’s leading scorers during the pre-tournament, tallying 2 points in just 2 games played. He will be playing a critical role in the team’s offence and could be in for big things if his numbers are any indication.

Given that he has yet to sign his entry-level-contract, keep an eye on Holmberg during the tournament. He could become the next diamond in the rough to the likes of Andreas Johnsson.

Filip Kral

Out of all the players on this list, Kral probably has the least amount of hype surrounding his game. Considering he is a defenseman playing in the WHL, you may be forgiven for that.

Make no mistake about it, Kral is perhaps one of the more underrated players entering the tournament and the Leafs 2018-5th-round-pick has quite the chance to impress. Like Holmberg, he too doesn’t have a contract with Toronto so this is quite the opportunity on a big stage.

This season is his second with the Spokane Chiefs and he has been quietly been playing well. In 17 games played, he has 3 goals, 4 assists, and 7 points, which is impressive considering he missed time at the start of the year with an injury.

On team Czech Republic, Kral could provide some value on the defence with his hockey sense and great play in transition. He is also great offensive awareness to set his teammates up for great chances.

If Kral is able to make the final roster, he will no doubt play a vital role in his national team’s backend. It could also be a prime chance to impress his way to his first pro contract.