Post by Toronto Maple Leafs on Aug 15, 2024 22:25:59 GMT -6
The haul is already in the books and Leaf management is pleased as all get out with the results of the year’s off season. After a disappointing season where they couldn’t muster a serious winning streak things needed to change. While not coming out of the rebuild fully, steps have been taken with the additions of Jeff Petry, Anders Lee, TJ Oshie, Robin Lehner and Ville Husso to ensure there is more veteran presence around the young talent in the organization. We will look at the young players in 3 phases, the first on the pro roster, the second will be farm and prospect and finally we will take a look at the recently drafted crop of prospects.
On the pro roster:
Elias Pettersson-Is an elite center and franchise player for the organization. He lead them to a cup final in the first season and has been a 100 point player every year in the league. He is the face of the organization and the cornerstone piece that teams covet. While he is up for a contract renewal this year. All signs point to back up the Brinks truck and making sure he stays with the organization long term.
Wyatt Johnston-Is quickly moving up the depth chart and looks to be a fixture on the pro rosters second line this year. Likely with veteran wingers in Lee and Oshie he will be expected to produce while avoiding some of the hardest match ups. He is a natural finished who has very good playmaking skills and more than capable in his own end. I think coach Barry Trotz will monitor him a bit this season but he will have a long leash.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan-Looks to have the most to gain this year. If veteran wings are line two, youthful ones are on the top line and JAD has a chance to secure top line minutes this season. His solid two way game and ability to set up his teammates make him an intriguing fit with Petey and Dach. If the team struggles or needs to length its line up look for JAD to slot in as the 3 C to help shoulder some of the responsibilities.
Kirby Dach-has a real opportunity this year after a season in which some thought he underperformed. This year he will start on the wing with the best offensive weapon on the team as his center. Everything is set to make him break out this year and if he does this team might have just enough to steal a wild card spot rather than be the bottom of the league.
Timothy Liljegren- has taken significant strides each of the last two seasons. Another season like the past two and he will be a legit number one in this league. Pretty impressive for a guy who was almost omitted from the roster in the first season. His defensive game is pretty well established and his game with the puck continues to take positive steps. He is a great set up man who can quarterback a good powerplay. He has vision to both sides of the ice and is willing to shoot if people are taking away the pass. He has elite footwork on the blue line and is a player that will carry the puck down into the offensive zone.
On the farm:
Connor Zary-is the recent 4 million dollar man in town and picking up meals for the boys for all of preseason. Despite that the Leafs are keen on the young lad who has steadily evolved his game in the minors the past couple of seasons. For his development the best spot for him is likely the top center on the farm team this year, leading a spirited group of youngsters as far as they can dream. Entirely possible he splits time between farm and pro this year but depending on FA additions we will just have to see.
Matty Knies-like Zary has shown he belongs in this league. There is no moment to big for him and he has ice in his veins. This year he is expected to produce on a more consistent basis rather than a complementary guy but that is exactly the sort of pressure that drives players like him to grow and develop. There is top 6 upside in the former second rounder and with a chance to blossom on the top line in with the Marlies.
Ivan Miroshnichenko-is an often forgotten man. Not quite as high profile as some others because he is a bit raw but he possesses some great attributes to becoming an offensive player. He can impact the game with his shot and his playmaking that lines up with his size and skating ability. I think he stays one more year on prospect list but should be in the NHL for the 2025 season. That should set him up for top 6 minutes in the farm until he is ready for full time PFHL pro time.
Liam Ohgren is a recent add who is a pretty gifted two-way player that has some real offensive upside. There is a lot of depth to his game and he can be an effective player even when the offense isn’t there. He played in SHL the Champions league, AHL and the NHL last season plus the WJC for Sweden. He is a player that finds a way to help his team and already is contributing to an NHL roster. The future looks bright for this winger.
Marco Rossi-has put Covid in the rear view mirror. His rating is disappointing but his game at 22 is not. 21 goal NHL season and 40 points in his first season is more than respectable. He is a player who competes hard and battles constanty. While not being a big guy he is not scared of the dirty areas and will attack the net while playing through traffic. Other than a Pandemic nothing has really slowed him down. Two productive AHL seasons have got him ready for the pro game and won’t look back now.
Matthew Coronato-is a competitive goal scorer with a evolving two-way game. ON the right side of a line up he has a finishing ability few can match. Release, shot, the whole package. Playing with some skilled play makers could really start to unlock his potential this year in the Farm league.
Pontus Holmberg is a solid utility forward that all teams covet. Good two-way game, wins draws, battles for loose pucks, and never stops competing. He will make others around him better by doing the little things that help the team win. Savvy coach will be able to get a lot of mileage out of him.
Dmitri Simashev is a big body Russian defender that controls the boards and the front of the net. He is not a high end offensive player but he is a great gap control, shutdown defender that uses his size and physical tools to break up plays. Another year outside the PFHL seems likely for the hulking Russian but he has hired an English as a second language coach expecting to come over next year.
Samuel Honzek had a nightmare of a season. A freak accident and a laboured recovery slowed his draft plus 1 year progress significantly. After leading his WHL team in ppg his pass season he regressed back to 5th at less than a ppg. All that made him intriguing a year ago is still there, with the frame, puck skills and shot but a confidence boost and a good season will certainly set him up for PFHL future success.
Recently Drafted:
Ivan Demidov is a dynamic offensive weapon. His puck skills, shiftiness and skating make him a terror to defend. Out on the wing he can beat you wide or drive to the net. His combine appearance was a positive sign as was his countryman Michkov signing in NHL. Absolutely intriguing add to a strong forward prospect pool.
Luke Misa has been undervalued because of his size through his hockey career. He is the perfect combination of a skill player with chip on his shoulder. Think Andrew Mangiapane, Marty St Louis type players. Great work ethic, great skill but lacking on skeletal structure. He will take the full junior career but moving into the farm in a couple of seasons he could be a gem.
Alfons Freij is a very skilled offensive defenseman playing in Sweden’s U20 league most of the year. He is a lethal blue line finisher with a great one-timer. His shot isn’t his only weapon as he has pretty impressive passing skill as well. He has the mobility to make it work but needs to develop a better understanding of the game. He needs work in his own zone but if he can figure it out there are a lot of intriguing tools.
Maxim Masse is a good sized winger with some tools offensively. He doesn’t have great foot speed but he seems to be fine getting around the ice. The is middle six upside if he hit his ceiling. There is a good shot and play making and he is comfortable in traffic with the puck. That is a hard skill to master and he does it very well. A risk for sure but a worthy swing in the middle rounds of the draft.
Kirll Zarubin is a Russian goalie prospect plucked from the MHL. It is hard to gauge that league especially from a stat line but a .944 save % can not be ignored. There is a real frame to work with and the Flames have had some pretty decent success in the goalie realm of late so their scouting team must be onto something with some strong organizational depth in the crease. Entirely possible Zarubin is the next Sorokin, but he is equally likely to never leave the Motherland.
So what is next for the Leafs. There are some decisions to be made around Free Agency but don’t expect to much of a splash. A few nibbles around the edge of the FA pool is really all they are looking to do. Lengthen the farm roster a bit and make training camp a bit competitive. The Leaf’s are poised for improvement but likely more of a middle of the pack team this year. If things go their way a play off spot would be a big win. The team does have some light at the end of the tunnel with organization depth at every position.
On the pro roster:
Elias Pettersson-Is an elite center and franchise player for the organization. He lead them to a cup final in the first season and has been a 100 point player every year in the league. He is the face of the organization and the cornerstone piece that teams covet. While he is up for a contract renewal this year. All signs point to back up the Brinks truck and making sure he stays with the organization long term.
Wyatt Johnston-Is quickly moving up the depth chart and looks to be a fixture on the pro rosters second line this year. Likely with veteran wingers in Lee and Oshie he will be expected to produce while avoiding some of the hardest match ups. He is a natural finished who has very good playmaking skills and more than capable in his own end. I think coach Barry Trotz will monitor him a bit this season but he will have a long leash.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan-Looks to have the most to gain this year. If veteran wings are line two, youthful ones are on the top line and JAD has a chance to secure top line minutes this season. His solid two way game and ability to set up his teammates make him an intriguing fit with Petey and Dach. If the team struggles or needs to length its line up look for JAD to slot in as the 3 C to help shoulder some of the responsibilities.
Kirby Dach-has a real opportunity this year after a season in which some thought he underperformed. This year he will start on the wing with the best offensive weapon on the team as his center. Everything is set to make him break out this year and if he does this team might have just enough to steal a wild card spot rather than be the bottom of the league.
Timothy Liljegren- has taken significant strides each of the last two seasons. Another season like the past two and he will be a legit number one in this league. Pretty impressive for a guy who was almost omitted from the roster in the first season. His defensive game is pretty well established and his game with the puck continues to take positive steps. He is a great set up man who can quarterback a good powerplay. He has vision to both sides of the ice and is willing to shoot if people are taking away the pass. He has elite footwork on the blue line and is a player that will carry the puck down into the offensive zone.
On the farm:
Connor Zary-is the recent 4 million dollar man in town and picking up meals for the boys for all of preseason. Despite that the Leafs are keen on the young lad who has steadily evolved his game in the minors the past couple of seasons. For his development the best spot for him is likely the top center on the farm team this year, leading a spirited group of youngsters as far as they can dream. Entirely possible he splits time between farm and pro this year but depending on FA additions we will just have to see.
Matty Knies-like Zary has shown he belongs in this league. There is no moment to big for him and he has ice in his veins. This year he is expected to produce on a more consistent basis rather than a complementary guy but that is exactly the sort of pressure that drives players like him to grow and develop. There is top 6 upside in the former second rounder and with a chance to blossom on the top line in with the Marlies.
Ivan Miroshnichenko-is an often forgotten man. Not quite as high profile as some others because he is a bit raw but he possesses some great attributes to becoming an offensive player. He can impact the game with his shot and his playmaking that lines up with his size and skating ability. I think he stays one more year on prospect list but should be in the NHL for the 2025 season. That should set him up for top 6 minutes in the farm until he is ready for full time PFHL pro time.
Liam Ohgren is a recent add who is a pretty gifted two-way player that has some real offensive upside. There is a lot of depth to his game and he can be an effective player even when the offense isn’t there. He played in SHL the Champions league, AHL and the NHL last season plus the WJC for Sweden. He is a player that finds a way to help his team and already is contributing to an NHL roster. The future looks bright for this winger.
Marco Rossi-has put Covid in the rear view mirror. His rating is disappointing but his game at 22 is not. 21 goal NHL season and 40 points in his first season is more than respectable. He is a player who competes hard and battles constanty. While not being a big guy he is not scared of the dirty areas and will attack the net while playing through traffic. Other than a Pandemic nothing has really slowed him down. Two productive AHL seasons have got him ready for the pro game and won’t look back now.
Matthew Coronato-is a competitive goal scorer with a evolving two-way game. ON the right side of a line up he has a finishing ability few can match. Release, shot, the whole package. Playing with some skilled play makers could really start to unlock his potential this year in the Farm league.
Pontus Holmberg is a solid utility forward that all teams covet. Good two-way game, wins draws, battles for loose pucks, and never stops competing. He will make others around him better by doing the little things that help the team win. Savvy coach will be able to get a lot of mileage out of him.
Dmitri Simashev is a big body Russian defender that controls the boards and the front of the net. He is not a high end offensive player but he is a great gap control, shutdown defender that uses his size and physical tools to break up plays. Another year outside the PFHL seems likely for the hulking Russian but he has hired an English as a second language coach expecting to come over next year.
Samuel Honzek had a nightmare of a season. A freak accident and a laboured recovery slowed his draft plus 1 year progress significantly. After leading his WHL team in ppg his pass season he regressed back to 5th at less than a ppg. All that made him intriguing a year ago is still there, with the frame, puck skills and shot but a confidence boost and a good season will certainly set him up for PFHL future success.
Recently Drafted:
Ivan Demidov is a dynamic offensive weapon. His puck skills, shiftiness and skating make him a terror to defend. Out on the wing he can beat you wide or drive to the net. His combine appearance was a positive sign as was his countryman Michkov signing in NHL. Absolutely intriguing add to a strong forward prospect pool.
Luke Misa has been undervalued because of his size through his hockey career. He is the perfect combination of a skill player with chip on his shoulder. Think Andrew Mangiapane, Marty St Louis type players. Great work ethic, great skill but lacking on skeletal structure. He will take the full junior career but moving into the farm in a couple of seasons he could be a gem.
Alfons Freij is a very skilled offensive defenseman playing in Sweden’s U20 league most of the year. He is a lethal blue line finisher with a great one-timer. His shot isn’t his only weapon as he has pretty impressive passing skill as well. He has the mobility to make it work but needs to develop a better understanding of the game. He needs work in his own zone but if he can figure it out there are a lot of intriguing tools.
Maxim Masse is a good sized winger with some tools offensively. He doesn’t have great foot speed but he seems to be fine getting around the ice. The is middle six upside if he hit his ceiling. There is a good shot and play making and he is comfortable in traffic with the puck. That is a hard skill to master and he does it very well. A risk for sure but a worthy swing in the middle rounds of the draft.
Kirll Zarubin is a Russian goalie prospect plucked from the MHL. It is hard to gauge that league especially from a stat line but a .944 save % can not be ignored. There is a real frame to work with and the Flames have had some pretty decent success in the goalie realm of late so their scouting team must be onto something with some strong organizational depth in the crease. Entirely possible Zarubin is the next Sorokin, but he is equally likely to never leave the Motherland.
So what is next for the Leafs. There are some decisions to be made around Free Agency but don’t expect to much of a splash. A few nibbles around the edge of the FA pool is really all they are looking to do. Lengthen the farm roster a bit and make training camp a bit competitive. The Leaf’s are poised for improvement but likely more of a middle of the pack team this year. If things go their way a play off spot would be a big win. The team does have some light at the end of the tunnel with organization depth at every position.
