The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect cupboard is relatively well stocked, despite lacking truly elite talent, due to an absence of high draft slots. For a club that has been competing for the Stanley Cup and drafting low for years now, their situation, while not great, is better than it could be.
It has also taken a hit with some recent graduates the past couple years as Joseph Woll, Nick Robertson, and Matthew Knies have all made the Toronto Maple Leafs and left their "prospect" t ags behind. Aside from them, there have also been players like Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann who have graduated from "prospect" status.
The club was able to add eight players to their prospect pool earlier this summer at the 2024 NHL Draft. In the first round, they added defenseman Ben Danford, then all the way in the fourth round added defenseman Victor Johansson. They then added: Miroslav Holinka, Alexander Plesovskikh, Timofei Obvintsev, Matt Lahey, Sam McCue, and Nathan Mayes.
The NHL's annual rookie tournaments are under way and with training camps just around the corner, I felt it would be as good a time as any to take a look at the Leafs prospect pool and see where players stand, who has risen and fallen over the past year.
Graduates
As I mentioned before, there were a few key prospects that officially graduated and now should be considered bonafide NHL players.
Matthew Knies
After signing his entry-level contract at the end of the 2022-23 season, he dressed for the final few regular season games and then he got his first taste of playoff action. He looked like a bull in a china shop there and despite having his postseason cut short due to injury, he was arguably one of the best players on a nightly basis.
This past year was his rookie season and after playing in 87 combined games between the playoffs and regular season, it’s safe to say he is an NHLer and no longer a prospect.
Nick Robertson
Although Robertson made his NHL debut in the 2020 playoffs, he had yet to secure a roster spot until this past season. Between injuries and demotions, he was held to just 31 regular season games over the course of three seasons. In 2023-24 despite being a healthy scratch at times, he still managed to suit up 56 times and score at one of the highest rates on the team. Although it was reported that he has requested a trade, he is for now a member of the organization and is included in the graduates section, having just re-signed last week.
Joseph Woll
The 25-year old netminder entered last season as the presumptive starting or tandem goalie, despite having only played 15 NHL games between the regular season and playoffs. However, this past season he was able to play in 25 regular season games and only three playoff games due to injuries. He would have likely played at least 41 games had he been healthy and fingers crossed he can be this season, as he will be looked upon to be a vital player in the team's crease.
Pontus Holmberg
Although Holmberg played nearly 40 games in 2022-23, his demotion to the Marlies later in the year called his NHL future into question. So too did his 11 game stint to start the year in 2023-24, but he was eventually called up and played 54 games as well as all seven playoff games for the Leafs. He is currently penciled in as a bottom-six forward for the team and has been a great story as a late round gem for the club.