Toronto Maple Leafs Top 10 Prospects (Annual Pre-Camp Update)

Mikko Kokkonen #10

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Mikko Kokkonen in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.  Despite not having a first rounder in that draft, it is kind of incredible how good that draft looks for them just a little more than a year later. (Kokkonen is the first of three from that draft to make this list).

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Kokkonen is a smallish (5’9) defenseman who shoots left-handed and is described as “quick in transition” and “intelligent.”

The Leafs obviously have a type, and Kokkonen is it. In this article from the Athletic, multiple people mention his maturity, and when he is asked to evaluate his own game, it really comes across. Kokkonen tells writer Joshua Kloke that he’d like to be a top NHL defenseman, but acknowledges that probably isn’t his path.  In a self-assessment of his own play, he says he’s good at everything, great at nothing.

The scouting reports seem to bear that out.

Scott Wheeler had this to say:

"He plays a modern, puck-possession style that might look a little too safe but drives results, includes some calculated aggression and is at its best when he’s making simple, smart plays. More and more, those are the defensemen teams covet."

Of course it has been well publicized that Kokkonen had a concussion going into last season and that he struggled somewhat.  His offensive totals are not impressive, but he looks to be on track to become an effective middle-of-the-lineup NHL defenseman.

If that’s what you get out of your tenth best prospect, I think that’s a good sign.