An Overseas Update on 4 Toronto Maple Leafs Loan Players

Filip Hållander

Age: 20

H/W: 6’0″/190lbs

POS: C

Current Team: Lulea HF (SHL)

Filip Hållander was brought over to the Leafs in the Kasperi Kapanen deal earlier this offseason. Although he was drafted by Pittsburgh, 58th overall in 2018, per @MarkhMasters the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dubas have had an interest in Hållander since draft day.

This season Hållander has remained with Luleå of the SHL and so far has put up 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 games. Hållander is smart and makes the right decisions on both sides of the puck in all 3 zones on the ice. Perhaps later this season or next, Hållander will make the trip over to North America and start his journey in the AHL with the Marlies.

Swedes have built a reputation for being high skill, smart, efficient two-way hockey players. It would seem Hållander play fits this mold and in a number of years when the current Leafs Core is starting to age, Hållander could step in and be a very effective middle-6 player.

Denis Malgin

Age: 23

H/W: 5’9″/177lbs

POS: C

Current Team: Lausanne HC (Swiss-A League)

Denis Malgin was brought over to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this year in the one-for-one Mason Marchment trade from the Florida Panthers. His season-high in the NHL was in the 2017-18 season where Malgin tallied 11 goals and 22 points in 51 games with the Panthers.

After being brought over to the blue and white, Malgin played 4th line minutes for 8 games going pointless. However, those 8 games were obviously enough for the Leafs to resign the 23-year-old to a one-year $700,000 extension.

Here’s Steve Dangle to go over the Malgin signing:

Margins scoring touch has followed him everywhere he went, except the NHL. It would seem Malgin falls into the category of being too good for the AHL but struggling to really succeed in the NHL, although his on-ice results are good even if the scoring is not.

It was announced by the Leafs on Oct 8th that this season Malgin would be loaned to  Lausanne HC of the Swiss-A League. So far has put up one goal in 2 games. While yes only one goal, it was a pretty one:

As it’s not yet been confirmed as to when the start of the next season will be, there’s the potential that when it does, along with a number of other European prospects, Malgin will be fighting for a spot on one the third/fourth lines.

Mikko Lehtonen

Age: 26

H/W: 5’11″/196lbs

POS: D

Current Team: Jokerit Helsinki (KHL)

If your a Toronto Maple Leafs Fan and have not heard of the Finnish defenseman Mikko Lehtonen, you’ve probably been living under a rock. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Lehtonen in May and due to the Pandemic, he has remained on loan from the Leafs and is for Jokerit of the KHL for the time being. Oh and don’t let me forget, he is lighting it up.

Lehtonen has now registered 13 points in 10 games. He still leads all KHL defenceman in scoring and it doesn’t seem he’ll be slowing down any time soon. Lehtonen’s smooth-skating, head up vision, and silky mitts make him a lethal weapon from the backend.

Lehtonen is no stranger to big minutes as well. With Jokerit, he is leading his team with a 22:11 TOI/G. He’s got the knack for scoring too. In 10 games, he’s taken 46 shots and has scored 6 goals for a 13.0 SH%. On Friday alone Lehtonen took 7 shots while still notching an assist.

The question isn’t if Lehtonen will be on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, but rather where he’ll end up. Once the NHL does start back up (presumably in January) Lehtonen will join the Leafs in at least a top-six role.

His offensive capability will make him an excellent 1B powerplay option after Morgan Rielly and that’s exactly where newly appointed PP coach Manny Malhotra will want to put him. Beyond the PP, Lehtonen’s ability to play big minutes allows him to slide up and down the lineup if injuries present themselves.

(Unless otherwise noted, all stats hockeydb.com)

That concludes your Toronto Maple Leafs overseas roundup.