Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects: Risers and Fallers 2023

By Gordon Munro

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Nick Robertson #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to playing against the Calgary Flames in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Nick Robertson #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to playing against the Calgary Flames in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 9
Next
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vyacheslav Peksa (No.35) of Russia U20 (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects: Risers

Vyacheslav Peksa, G

DOB: 08-27-2002

Drafted: Sixth round, 185th overall, 2021

Last team: Bars Kazan (VHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs seem to be in good hands with their Russian scout.

As will become evident later on, Peksa is one of many Leafs Russian prospects that have catapulted themselves up prospect rankings with their performance last season.

He made the transition from the Russian juniors (MHL) to the second-tier pro league (VHL) and showed no signs of needing to adjust.

Despite a losing record of 13-19-6, he had a .921% save percentage (SV%) through 40 games. He ranked fourth across the VHL in U-21 players in terms of SV% despite playing the most games of any player ahead of him.

He signed his entry-level contract earlier in the off-season but will return to Russia next season. This gives him another year of development likely playing another season at the VHL level, while allowing other goaltending prospects to develop in the AHL and ECHL.

Hopefully, he will come over to North America in 2024 and should be able to battle for a spot with the Toronto Marlies or Newfoundland Growlers. As it currently sits, Peksa is arguably the Leafs top goaltending prospect.

Home/Analysis