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Toronto Maple Leafs: A Closer Look at Development Camp

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: A general view of Toronto Maple Leafs logo prior to an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: A general view of Toronto Maple Leafs logo prior to an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs development camp is fully underway.

Thanks to video clips of practices and media availability, we’ve been given a peek at the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects. A development camp is a perfect way to see how far along the team’s future players are.

Leading the development camp is the assistant general manager for player development, Hayley Wickenheiser. Her first development camp with her new assistant general manager title. She got hired in the summer of 2018 as part of Toronto’s player development department. Earlier this month, she was one of three staff members promoted to assistant GM.

Wickenheiser’s main focus early in camp has been teaching the players to improve their possession play and pace with the puck. Anyone who has watched a Toronto Maple Leafs game over the last few seasons knows the team plays a puck-possession game. Toronto’s focus is to keep the puck rather than dump and chase. The sooner these prospects learn that, the better.

When asked if there was one player that stands out above the rest, Wickenheiser mentioned Matthew Knies. Knies is Toronto’s second-round pick from the 2021 NHL draft. According to Wickenheiser, Knies is a big boy with all the tools. Those are encouraging words for a prospect close to joining the big club.

Toronto Maple Leafs Development Camp Standouts

Matthew Knies

During the 2021-22 season, Knies recorded 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 33 games. He will return to the University of Minnesota this Fall. Knies will be looking to take what he learns from this development camp and apply it to his game this season. He told the media that he’d like to become a complete two-way player that can play at both ends of the ice. With a big 6’3, 205 pounds frame, if Knies can become the two-way player he wants to be, Toronto has a power forward in the making.
(Stats from eliteprospects.com)

William Villeneuve

William Villeneuve entered the development camp as a Memorial Cup champion. He recorded eight goals and 48 assists for 56 points in 64 games for the Saint John Sea Dogs. He also registered one assist in five games to help them win the Memorial Cup. Villeneuve is aiming to earn a spot on the Toronto Marlies this season. The right-shooting defenseman is a 2020 fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will be a welcomed addition to the Marlies blueline.

Fraser Minten

Fraser Minten is one of the Toronto Maple Leafs newest prospects. Toronto drafted Minted 38th overall in the 2022 NHL draft. Last season he recorded 20 goals and 35 assists for 55 points in 67 games for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. The things that stand out about Minten a development camp are his ability to protect the puck and make plays under pressure. Wickenheiser was impressed with his smooth skating, confidence with the puck, and the way he uses his body to get inside position and win puck battles.

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Development camp is an exciting time to see what the future has in store for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Players at this camp not only get to learn from Hayley Wickenheiser but also take part in a Q&A session with Jason Spezza. Hopefully, these kids learn a lot and adapt what they learn to their game. The future is bright for many of them.

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