Looking Back at the Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects of 2017

Back in 2016-17 the Toronto Maple Leafs were on top of the world.

Though they had just finished in last place, the Toronto Maple Leafs were rewarded with Auston Matthews, a player many correctly predicted would go on to be the best player in franchise history.

Though the road hasn’t always been smooth, the Leafs have made the playoffs in ever year since and been a top Stanley Cup Contender on an annual basis.

The Leafs and their fans would have liked to have had more playoff success, but if they keep putting themselves in a position to succeed like they have been, it should eventually come.

Every year, the Hockey News produces a publication that lists every NHL team’s top ten prospects.  Prior the to 2016-17 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs had an elite crop led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, but how was the list one year later.?

The 2017-18 list was led by Kasperi Kapanen who they as the 33rd best prospect in hockey and they had the organization third in the entire league.

We thought it would be interesting to see what became of the first post-Matthews post-hype group of prospects.  Perhaps it will show where the Leafs went wrong, or if they did.

Here is look at that year’s Leafs crop and what kind of player they became.