Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 European prospect update for October

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a long and storied history when it comes to players in Europe.

One of the first great European players to ever play in the NHL was none other than Toronto maple Leafs defenseman Börje Salming, who still to this day leads the franchise in scoring by defenders. 

Even today, many current Leafs players have honed their crafts in Europe; Notably Auston Matthews spent a year with the Zurich Lions of the National League in Switzerland. There is also William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, Pontus Holmberg, Timothy Liljegren, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and David Kampf. Of course, rookie netminder Dennis Hildeby was playing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) only two season ago.

Outside of the main roster, many Leafs European prospects have come to North America this year and in recent years making them ineligible for this list. Yet, they are still prospects.

In the American Hockey League (AHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) are; Roni Hirvonen, Nikita Grebenkin, Topi Niemela, Mikko Kokkonen, Artur Akhtyamov, and Vyacheslav Peksa.

This leaves three Maple Leafs prospects currently in Europe, all of which were drafted this past June at the 2024 NHL Draft. I will be keeping a close eye on them with how strong the team has drafted from that region historically.

Victor Johansson

It seems like every year the Maple Leafs pick a player that leaves everyone scratching their heads, only for that player to break out almost immediately. In 2024, that player was Johansson. Through 12 games this season, he has scored one goal and 13 points, already surpassing last season’s point totals by four in a whopping 221 less games. 

Playing in the J20 Nationell league in Sweden, Johansson has been great so far this year. Although he remains undersized at 6-1 a d 159lbs, if he can continue to take steps both offensively and physically, he could be a player with legitimate potential. For now, he remains a project but the raw skills are there and we will likely have to wait a few years to see if the bet pays off.

Alexander Plesovskikh

Drafted in the fifth round, 152nd overall in 2024, Plesovskikh is a high motor two-way forward who thrives in the dirty areas of the ice. Playing in the Russian Junior League’s (MHL) Gold Division for MHK Spartak Moscow, Plesovskikh has seen a slight uptick in his time on ice this year and an uptick in his production.

In 13 games this year, he has scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points. He is currently on pace to surpass last year’s totals of 17 points in 33 games in short order. However, given his style of play, the team’s interest seems to be more about the projectability of his game than the potential ceiling he could reach.

Timofei Obvintsev

Once again in the fifth round in 2024, the Leafs selected yet another Russian goalkeeper. Obvintsev boasts the seemingly required size of the modern day goalie at 6-3. Last year as a DY+1 player in the MHL’s Silver division, playing for Krasniya Armiya Moskva, he was the third-string goalie playing 16 games with a 7-7-0 record and a .921 SV%. (All Statistics viaEliteProspects.com)

This year, once again sharing the crease with top 2025 draft eligible netminder in Pyotr Andreyanov, he sports a 4-2-0 record and a .913 SV% in six games. As a feeder team to the one of the KHL’s top teams in CSKA Moskva, Obvintsev has a potentially long and difficult path to regular starts in the top Russian league.

If he follows the path of former Leafs Russian goaltending prospects, he could be looking at playing a few years overseas slowly moving up the ranks before coming over to North America on an entry-level deal to develop in the Maple Leafs minor league affiliates. For now, he has to focus on the task of trying to split starts with one of Russia’s top young goalies.

The season is still young and a lot can change so I will be sure to keep updating on the Leafs European prospects.