5 Toronto Maple Leafs Rookies Who Can Make an Impact Soon

Due to a cap-crunch, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to look to a slew of rookies with entry-level contracts who look to make an impact with the blue and white.

This upcoming training camp, there will be a number of rookie skaters looking to make a jump to the NHL level and make an impact with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Due to a dwindling amount of cap space, a great way to keep quality players on the roster is with entry-level contracts that come in at a very low cap-hit.

Today we take a look at a number of skaters; Nick Robertson, Alexander Barabanov, Mikko Lehtonen, Egor Korshkov, and Adam Brooks who, when camp arrives will possibly have a chance of making the Leafs roster.

While only three of the five players discussed today will be considered real ‘rookies’ under the NHL’s guidelines, (Robertson, Korshkov, and Brooks), the other two will still be starting their NHL careers this year and we can still consider them rookies for the sake of this piece. We’ll profile all of them and will see what their outlook and potential will look like for the 2020-21 season and beyond.

Nick Robertson

Last Team: Peterborough Petes (OHL)

2019-20 Stats: 55 goals – 31 assists – 46 GP

Draft Year: 2019 (53rd Overall)

Position: C/LW

Age: 19

Height/Weight: 5’9″ – 161 lbs

Robertson at 18, was the youngest player in his draft class and ended up falling down to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. Since his draft, the Northville, MI native has done nothing but excel.

Robertson led the OHL in goals and was the first member of the Petes in 27 years to hit the 50 goal mark. During the season he also represented the USA at the U20 WJC, recording 5 points (2 g – 3 a) in 5 games. Here is a list of Robertson’s other accomplishments throughout the season: (via eliteprospects.com)

• CHL Sportsman of the Year
• OHL First All-Star Team
• OHL Most Goals (55)
• OHL Most Sportsmanlike Player (William Hanley Trophy)

It was because of these accomplishments that prior to the restart of the 2019-20 season, the Leafs decided to give Robertson a chance at a roster spot for the play-in. Robertson succeeded in camp and was rewarded a spot on the third line playing alongside Alexander Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen for 4 out of the 5 games in the play-in.

Watching Robertson in the play-in was a treat. The hustle. The hungriness for the puck. The work ethic. The willingness and confidence to take a shot at any time. It was all there. After a lot of hard work, he was even rewarded with his first career NHL goal.

Now, where will Robertson possibly fit into the Leafs for the 2020-21 season? There’s a good chance that he gets a spot on the 2nd/3rd line, as well as some powerplay time. If someone can dish him the puck, with his shot, he poses a threat from nearly anywhere on the ice. Despite being undersized, (5-foot-9, 161 lbs), he can still remain shifty and speedy on both the backcheck and forecheck.

It was without a doubt that Robertson is ready for the NHL and that he has a shot that will be hard to beat. He has a great offensive upside and it’s apparent that he has leadership material in him. There’s a likely chance that the 5-foot-9 centre will be able to make the jump to the NHL and provide an energizing presence to the blue and white.

Alexander Barabanov

Last Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

2019-20 Stats: 11 goals – 9 assists – 43 GP

Draft Year: Undrafted

Position: RW

Age: 26

Height/Weight: 5’10” – 192lbs

On April 7th, 2020, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the signing of Russian winger Alexander Barabanov. Barabanov went undrafted as a teenager and eventually found a career playing with KHL top team, SKA St. Petersburg. Barabanov started playing in the KHL at the young age of 19. Over parts of 7 seasons with SKA, he has recorded a total of 137 points (62 g – 75 a) in 262 career games. He also contributed in securing SKA’s 2 KHL championships in 2015 and 2017.

It is said that Barabanov’s skating ability is elite and that his game will likely be able to translate over to the NHL to be a successful 3rd line guy. He will be someone who can move up and down the lineup to provide flexibility for Sheldon Keefe and the Leafs. Former KHL reporter Igor Eronko stated that he has great potential in the NHL and that his drive for the puck accompanied by his strength will provide some well-needed grit for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He does have a scoring ability as well. Just a year ago during the 2018-19 season, Barabanov was second in team scoring, tallying 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 58 games. He has silky mitts and those accompanied by his skating and quick release leads to dangerous scoring opportunities.

Barabanov will surely be an asset for the Toronto Maple Leafs and will bring a level of depth to the forward core following the departure of winger Kasperi Kapanen. Possibly, Barabanov will be able to slot into the spot that Kapanen left and play alongside Kerfoot on the third line. Regardless of where the 26-year-old ends up playing in the line-up, it is apparent that he brings versatility and strength to a team that needs it.

Adam Brooks

Last Team: Toronto Marlies (AHL)

2019-20 Stats: 9 goals – 11 assists – 29 GP

Draft Year: 2016 (92nd Overall)

Position: C

Age: 24

Height/Weight: 5’10” – 181 lbs

Brooks, a Winnipeg, MB, native was a WHL star in his time with the Regina Pats from 2012-2017. He led the league in points once to capture the Bobby Clarke Trophy and then led the league in assists twice. His soft scoring touch and two-way play attracted the Leafs to draft him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

Following his junior career, Brooks went to the Marlies. Since joining the club, he has tallied 79 points in 147 career games. Last year he was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Marlies team, tallying 20 points in 29 games. Brooks playing on the PK, PP, and 5-on-5, played in all situations – and for a reason too, he’s a 200-foot player.

It was because of his strong two-way game that he was called up to the Leafs in January for a slew of games to play on the fourth line. Brooks appeared in 7 games and notched 3 assists (all even strength) with a 7:51 ATOI (hockey-reference.com).

Keefe and Dubas were impressed by Brooks play these past few years and as a result, they rewarded him with a two-year contract extension:

Keefe has always been a fan of the 24-year-old centre and it would not be a big surprise if the Leafs kept Brooks up in the NHL for the start of the next season. He provides versatility and a high level of hockey IQ that could eventually turn him into a great third/fourth line centre for the blue and white.

Mikko Lehtonen

Last Team: Jokerit Helsinki (KHL)

2019-20 Stats: 17 goals – 32 assists – 60 GP

Draft Year: Undrafted

Position: D

Age: 26

Height/Weight: 6’0″ – 196 lbs

Lehtonen was signed to a one-year $925,000 entry-level contract on May 4, 2020. Over his last season, Lehtonen without a doubt has a surge in his game. The Finnish D played exceptionally well for Jokerit in the KHL. His play was good enough for a team-leading 49 points in 60 games. Apart from that, he had some other impressive feats.

Here is a list of Lehtonen’s accomplishments throughout last season (via eliteprospects.com)

• KHL All-Star Game
• KHL Defenseman of the Month (January)
• KHL Defenseman of the Month (December)
• KHL Defenseman of the Month (November)
• KHL Defenseman of the Week (Dec. 10)
• KHL Defenseman of the Week (Oct. 14)
• KHL Most Assists by Defenseman (32)
• KHL Most Goals by Defenseman (17)
• KHL Most Points by Defenseman (49)
• KHL Defenseman of the Year

So far, Lehtonen has remained with Jokerit on loan from the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is due to the fact that Lehtonen will be unable to join the Leafs officially until the start of the 2020-21 NHL season. In his first two games this season Lehtonen has already had 3 goals (all even strength) and 1 assist while averaging 20:53 ATOI.

https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1303738193909514241

It is evident that the 6-foot 196-lbs left-handed shot will bring great offensive upside to the Leafs and their powerplay. 11 of Lehtonen’s 17 goals were on the powerplay last year. If that doesn’t scream powerplay quarterback, I don’t know what does. Perhaps his powerplay abilities will be able to take a load off of Morgan Rielly’s back, and then some.

His offensive numbers speak for themselves, but it’s apparent through his +/- rating of a +26 accompanied by his KHL defenseman of the year award that his defensive game is quite present as well.

Now, as it does with most players that come from Europe to the NHL, it takes some time to adjust. As a result, we may not see results from the 26-year-old as quickly as we hope. At best he can slide into the top 4 somewhere alongside Rielly or Muzzin. At worst he starts off with a borderline top 6 position and gradually works himself into the mix. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox has reported that Lehtonen did play an entire season on the right side of the blue line and he didn’t mind it. Henceforth, he could play on either side of the back end, which does bring some versatility to the back end.

Lehtonen’s ability to carry the puck and jump up into the rush shows that he will be just another threat on the blue line that teams have to be aware of. The Leafs are looking forward to seeing what Lehtonen can do here in North America, as are the fans. Look forward to seeing Lehtonen donning the coveted crest of the Leafs.