5 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects to keep an eye on this season
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a couple of decent drafts in recent years. Those drafts have provided them with a well-rounded prospect pool. In this article, I will focus on the Leafs top five prospects aged 23 and under.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a couple of decent drafts in recent years. Those drafts have provided them with a well-rounded prospect pool. In this article, I will focus on the Leafs top five prospects aged 23 and under. However, Matthew Knies (21) will not be included, as he has already established himself as an NHL regular.
The Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp will take place in September, so we will all find out where these prospects are in their development. Some will get more looks from the Leafs coaching staff and management by participating in the team's main camp and pre-season. If they're lucky, they will earn a few regular-season games.
Last season, Matthew Knies made the Leafs roster out of training camp, and Fraser Minten earned himself four regular season games. Having prospects in your system that are NHL-ready and fighting for a roster spot is a good thing for every team to have. It will be interesting to see who (if any) will make the Leafs roster this season.
The Leafs rookies will be doing something a bit different this year. Instead of taking part in the Traverse City tournament, the Leafs prospects will face off against the Montreal Canadiens prospects in a weekend battle on September 15th and 16th in Montreal at the Bell Centre. What better way is there to signal the beginning of hockey season than to have the prospects from long-time rivals battle through two games? It should be an entertaining weekend for all involved.
Here's a look at the five Leafs prospects to watch this season.
Nikita Grebenkin
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Nikita Grebenkin in the fifth round (135th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. He is a 21-year-old left winger who measures 6'2, 192 Lbs. He registered 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 67 games with Magnitogorsk in the KHL last season.
(All stats from eliteprospects.com)
Grebenkin won the KHL's Rookie of the Year award and the Gagarin Cup with Magnitogorsk. He registered three goals and three assists for six points during Magnitogorsk's Gagarin Cup run. He has dramatically climbed up the Leafs prospect rankings.
On April 29th, after his season in the KHL concluded, Grebenkin signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Leafs. The signing signals the end of his time playing in Russia. He will move to Canada and play in the Leafs system. Although he will be given every opportunity in training camp to make the Leafs roster, he will likely start in the American Hockey League (AHL) playing for the Toronto Marlies.
Grebenkin plays strong off the rush and skates very well for his size, which makes him dangerous with the puck as he skates through the neutral zone. He will often outsmart the opposing defenders with his skating and playmaking abilities. Another thing to like about Grebenkin is his incredible passing. He can find teammates in good spots and create scoring chances.
The Leafs will need to show the young Russian some patience as he adapts to a new country, style of play, and new teammates. Once everything clicks, and he becomes comfortable, he'll be a big part of any success the Marlies have this season.
Dennis Hildeby
Dennis Hildeby appeared in 41 games for the Marlies in the AHL last season. That is the most games he's ever played in a hockey season at any level. He finished the season with a 21-11-7 record and four shutouts. The 21 wins as a rookie is a Marlies franchise record. He ended the season with a 2.41 GAA and a .913 SV%.
At 6'7 and 222 pounds, there's no wondering how he got the nickname Hildebeast. He covers a lot of net, but that's not what makes him a good goaltender. Hildeby always finds a way to be in the right position. His combination of size, awareness, and positioning is the reason why he's the Leafs top goaltending prospect.
As good as he was last season, the Leafs and Marlies hope to see him play even better this season. Consistency will be the key to him finding more success. Hildeby will likely play 40-45 games this season for the Marlies. I would also expect him to get a call-up to the Leafs if Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz gets hurt.
The consensus within the Leafs organization is that Matt Murray will be sent down to the Marlies to start the season. This will give Hildeby the opportunity to talk to Murray and learn from a two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. With Joseph Woll already at the NHL level, and Hildeby not too far behind him, the Leafs have good goaltending depth for the future.
Topi Niemela
Topi Niemela is a 6'0, 180-pound right-shot defenseman from Finland. The Leafs drafted him in the third round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 64th overall pick. Niemela played his first season in North America with the Marlies last season. He registered eight goals and 31 assists for 39 points in 68 games.
He quickly put away any doubts people had about how he would adjust to playing in North America. Niemela became a reliable defenseman for the Marlies last season and played in many different situations. He learned a lot and didn't let anything slow him down. Niemela became increasingly more comfortable playing in the AHL as the season progressed.
Niemela is rarely the biggest defenseman on the ice but looks can be deceiving. He plays bigger than he is and has an element of sandpaper in his game. However, his bread and butter is his offense. The 22-year-old is a great passer and is able to make a quick first pass to get the puck up ice quickly. His passes rarely miss their target, which helps the team transition into the offensive zone more effectively.
Niemela worked on the defensive side of his game last season and played better positionally in the second half. He still needs to work on how to handle odd-man rushes, but overall, he took many positive steps in the right direction last season. Another season in the AHL is probably best for his development, but I won't be surprised to see Niemela playing a few games in the NHL this season if the Leafs suffer any injuries to their defensemen.
Fraser Minten
Fraser Minten got a small taste (four games) of the NHL last season. After four games, the Leafs sent Minten back to the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. The Blazers named Minten team captain, but after seven games, they traded him to the Saskatoon Blades. He registered 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 43 games split between the two teams.
Minten also had the privilege of playing for Team Canada at the World Juniors. He not only got to represent his country on the world stage, but he was Team Canada's captain. Minten registered three points in five games during the tournament. The experience was something he will never forget.
There is a good chance that Minten could make it onto the Leafs main roster again out of training camp. His skill set makes him a good choice for the fourth line and he should eventually be able to climb to the third-line center position.
Minten has a hard shot with a deceptive release, which often fools the goaltender. He also plays well defensively. His shot makes him a good choice for the second power-play unit, and his defensive play would allow him to play on the penalty kill.
However, if Minten doesn't make the Leafs lineup, he will be an asset to the Marlies. With the Marlies, Minten will be put into every situation and get plenty of time on the power play and penalty kill. I think a season in the AHL would help Minten become the full-time NHL player the Leafs know he can be.
Easton Cowan
If there is one prospect that everyone will have their eyes on during training camp, it will be Easton Cowan. He is coming off an outstanding season with the London Knights in the OHL. Cowan registered 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points in 54 games.
The 19-year-old set a new OHL record by registering a point in 42 consecutive games (regular season and playoffs). He finished the regular season on a 36-game point streak to set a new London Knights record. Cowan didn't stop when the regular season did. He registered ten goals and 24 assists for 34 points in 18 playoff games.
The Leafs first-round pick (28th overall) from the 2023 NHL draft finished the 2023-24 OHL season as an OHL Champion, OHL First All-Star Team, OHL's Most Outstanding Player (Red Tilson Trophy), OHL Playoffs Most Assists (24), OHL Playoffs Most Points (34), and OHL Playoffs MVP (Gretzky 99 Award). Cowan will be looking to carry that momentum into training camp and earn a roster spot in the Leafs lineup.
There is a lot to like about Cowan's game. He has an incredible hockey IQ and is a great playmaker. He has a knack for creating space for himself and to find teammates. Cowan can handle himself in puck battles and make quick passes. There will still be a learning curve for Cowan to adjust to the NHL level, but I don't think it will take him too long.
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Cowan's ceiling with the Leafs is high, and he has the potential to be a top-six forward in the near future. Maybe not this season, but soon. The only thing that Cowan needs to work on at the NHL is dealing with the physicality. For those who don't know Cowan very well, it won't take them long to realize why he is at the top of the Leafs prospect list.