2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs October North American Juniors prospect update
The Toronto Maple Leafs were able to add eight players at the 2024 NHL Draft, many of whom play in the Junior ranks in North America, namely the CHL.
These players, along with 2023 first round pick and Toronto Maple Leafs Top Prospect Easton Cowan, are the players that make up this first list of Juniors
I previously touched on the Maple Leafs prospects playing over in Europe, last week. As of right now, the club has seven players in total playing throughout the North American junior leagues. The seasons only recently kicked off, with the OHL being the last to start, under a month ago.
Regardless, there have been quite a few games played with plenty of action to cover, let's get started.
2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs October North American Juniors prospect update
Easton Cowan
Despite being penciled into almost every mock lineup over the summer, Cowan was one of the last players cut from the Maple Leafs' competitive camp. He has all of the tools to one day crack the top-six of an NHL lineup but he still has some refining to do. He rejoins the OHL's London Knights that he won an OHL championship and won playoff MVP with. There is not much more he can accomplish at this level besides to win a Memorial Cup.
The expectations are high but if he can produce at a similar rate to last season and grab a handful of awards along the way, it will help to improve his NHL readiness for next season. Although, given his profile I still would not be shocked if he starts next season with the Marlies. Regardless, as of right now he is off to a good start with five points in four games. Hopefully he can continue on or improve this pace.
Ben Danford
He was the Leafs’ top pick at the 2024 draft, 31st overall from the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. Much like Easton Cowan the year before, Danford was a pick that seemed to come out of nowhere. He fit the mould of other players people speculated on the Leafs picking being a smart, defensively responsible right-shot defender.
This upcoming year, the spotlight will be on him and he will be expected to take a step offensively from his 33 points in 64 games last year. He also now had the pressure of being named the Generals' captain as they look poised to make a push for the OHL championship and Memorial cup.
Miroslav Holinka
Holinka was a fifth round pick by the Leafs in 2024 at 151st overall and was drafted by the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings in the import draft. He is playing in his first North American season and has started the season off well, scoring two goals and three assists through his first six games.
He turned heads at the Leafs' development camp and so far has not disappointed in his short time in North America. He is a right-shot centerman with two-way ability and high hockey IQ. Although not many fifth rounders make the NHL, there is promise in Holinka's game. In the short term, he can hopefully finish his rookie WHL campaign hovering around point-per-game.
Noah Chadwick
Chadwick was a sixth round pick by the Maple Leafs in 2023 and plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, he is a big-bodied 6-3 207lbs left-shot defender. Last season, with the Hurricanes he took a big step scoring 12 goals and 56 points in 66 games. To start this year, he was named team captain and so far has one goal and six points assists through seven games.
One of the biggest knocks on him was his skating ability which he has taken some steps to improve. If he can continue to work on it and improve even more and if he can round out his game, he could be a decent player in the future.
Sam McCue
After being one of the earlier cuts in Leafs camp, the 2024 seventh round pick rejoined the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack and was promptly handed a two game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.
So far this season he has scored three goals and seven points in eight games. His bread and butter is his edgy style which can get him into trouble, but that is the cost of doing business for a player like him. Hopefully, he can continue scoring at a point-per-game rate throughout the year.
Matthew Lahey
Lahey is a big physical defender who was drafted in the seventh round, 200th overall in 2024 out of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Former Leafs director of scouting Wes Clark, joked at the Draft that "I think we know what Tre likes, so we try to execute." This was not specifically about Lahey but he fits the mould of a typical Treliving draft pick.
Since his draft, he has joined the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL) as he gears up for a move to Clarkson University starting next year. He is not a major point-getter but this is a part of his game that will hopefully see improvement as he currently has three in nine games. He has a July 2006 birthdate, so there is plenty of time for him to develop at the Collegiate level for the next four or five years.
Nathan Mayes
Taken with the last pick of the 2024 draft, Mayes is a big defenseman at 6-4 and 201lbs and he is not afraid to use this size to punish opposing players.
Given his selection, he seems to be a project player who was chosen mainly due to his defensive tools and having the coveted physical traits. He is not overly flashy but does possess some proficiency when it comes to breaking pucks out and moving the puck through quick passes and skating with it when there is some open space. (All stats and information via eliteprospects.com)
This season, he should look to develop more offensively while remaining to be a dominant defender logging big minutes on the penalty kill. His profile definitely seems projectable to a professional game but whether he makes it there remains to be seen. So far this year, he has played 10 games with one goal and five points and is on pace to smash his draft year total of 16 points by a large margin.
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I hope to continue to provide prospect updates for the entire pool on a near monthly basis for the rest of the season. Next, I will be looking at the Toronto Marlies and Cinncinati Cyclones and going over any Leafs prospects there.