The Toronto Maple Leafs are formally kicking off the Auston Matthews period with him taking up the captaincy this week, and with it, he turns into the following chief for the groups subsequent run of younger expertise.
A few of these gamers have already began their NHL careers — like Nick Robertson and Matthew Knies — whereas others are nonetheless travelling by the pipeline salivating on the probability to be the following call-up for the massive membership.
As soon as once more, on the 2024 NHL Draft, Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs made some noise buying and selling down from their first-round choice and finally drafting Ben Danford thirty first general from the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. They centered on stocking up on draft capital which they’ve lacked in recent times.
Whereas the workforce has not too long ago seen a few of its scouting employees bounce ship and be a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins — most notably Wes Clark — the longer term is vivid for the Maple Leafs with some high quality prospects within the subsequent wave of younger expertise.
Defining a Prospect
For this specific challenge, prospects will qualify as gamers drafted or acquired by the Maple Leafs who’re beneath the age of 25 and have but to play a full NHL season. These gamers are taking part in or have performed in different skilled leagues or nonetheless qualify to play junior or within the NCAA.
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As for goaltenders, in the event that they’ve performed 50 NHL video games and are beneath the age of 25, they are going to qualify for this listing. That implies that whereas Dennis Hildeby stays a prospect by these requirements, Joseph Woll has formally made the bounce to an NHL full-timer.
Pyramid Tiers
For those who haven’t seen the prospect pyramid earlier than, it’s a strategy to consider a workforce’s prospect pool based mostly on tiers somewhat than a one-by-one rating system. Differing opinions will end in various totally different lists if it got here all the way down to a top-20 listing, whereas a pyramid permits for extra of a give attention to the place prospects’ ceilings is likely to be based mostly on general expertise.
The tiers, will assist challenge whether or not a participant is of NHL calibre as a top-end expertise or whether or not they are going to spend their profession as a profession call-up. With that, right here’s the way it breaks down.
Tier 1 — Elite or top-line, top-pair expertise
Tier 2 — High-six ahead, top-four defender, beginning goaltender
Tier 3 — Third-line ahead, bottom-pair defender, backup goaltender
Tier 4 — Position gamers, bottom-line ahead, depth defenceman or ahead
Tier 5 — Minor league participant used for call-ups
Tier 1
Elite or High-Line, High-Pair Expertise
It’s protected to say the Maple Leafs nonetheless don’t have a prospect of this calibre. It’s been some time since Auston Matthews was the workforce’s prime prospect and, nicely, he made the bounce to the NHL instantly. Since then, the Maple Leafs have had simply 5 first-round picks and solely three of them are nonetheless throughout the group.
Whereas there may be some pleasure round gamers like Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten and what they are going to add to the Maple Leafs’ lineup after they do make the bounce, they nonetheless don’t slot into this top-tier of participant. Let’s face it, it’s not every single day {that a} participant of this stage comes round and the Maple Leafs haven’t seen one since 2016.
Tier 2
High-6 Ahead, High-4 Defender, Beginning Goaltender
Final season, we had Matthew Knies on this class. Nonetheless, he’s made the bounce to the massive membership and will proceed to develop into a real top-six ahead. On this case, each Cowan and Minten ought to discover themselves within the second tier of this pyramid.
Cowan’s proved himself within the OHL and will see one other enhance in his manufacturing this season if he lands again with the London Knights. That mentioned, the 19-year-old would truthful higher with some growth time within the AHL if that was doable. He’s coming off a season with 96 factors in 54 video games for the Knights and was the MVP of the league.
His pace and talent set will make him a serious asset when he does make the bounce to the NHL and whereas he may not be that star first-line scorer, his intangibles will make him a professional position participant within the top-six.
Artur Akhtyamov is one other title that has climbed the ranks within the Maple Leafs pipeline. A fourth-round choose again in 2020, Akhtyamov has taken his time coming over to North America, however has benefitted from his path. His final two seasons, he’s posted targets towards averages of two.51 (2023-24 in KHL), 2.00 (2023-24 in VHL) and 1.74 respectively. His save proportion hasn’t fallen beneath .921 over that span and he made the bounce to the KHL in 2023-24 with Kazan Ak-Bars.
Assuming his play can translate nicely to the North American recreation and Akhtyamov is likely to be one of many higher homegrown goalies for the Maple Leafs in latest reminiscence.
This tier additionally consists of Fraser Minten, Ben Danford, Topi Niemelä and Dennis Hildeby.
Tier 3
Third-Line Ahead, Backside-Pair Defender, Backup Goaltender
That is the place the vast majority of the Maple Leafs’ pipeline sits — within the mid-range prospect stage. Ok to crack the lineup sooner or later and perhaps also have a professional position late in a season or on a playoff run, but it surely’ll are available that depth place.
If the principle roster sees an harm to a key participant, that is the place the Maple Leafs are going to discover a fill-in — outdoors of the likelihood that they make a commerce to create a band-aid repair.
Alex Steeves is a participant who has seemingly landed on this mid-range tier. He’s had a number of quick alternatives with the massive membership, however nonetheless awaits that long-lasting shot to make an impression. He had his finest season within the AHL with the Toronto Marlies final season with 27 targets and 57 factors in 65 video games. With the Maple Leafs, he has one help in seven video games within the NHL — nevertheless, consistency and ice-time play a component in not getting snug at that stage.
Some imagine that he has a professional shot to seize an prolonged alternative with the Maple Leafs this season, however that seemingly nonetheless received’t come with out one of many regulars struggling an harm — which wouldn’t be a constructive observe for this membership.
Nikita Grebyonkin is one other participant that lands in between tiers two and three, as his recreation hasn’t had a chance to transition to North America simply but. That mentioned, he completed with 41 factors in 67 common season video games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in his first full KHL season at 20 years previous — which does make for a hopeful entrance workplace relating to Grebyonkin’s future.
This tier additionally consists of Nick Abruzzese, Roni Hirvonen, Ryan Tverberg, Ty Voit, Cade Webber and Vyacheslav Peksa.
Tier 4
Position Gamers, Backside-Line Ahead, Depth Defenceman or Ahead
A latest returnee to the Maple Leafs’ system, Nicolas Mattinen heads this tier as questions stay relating to how his recreation with transition again to North America. Throughout his OHL profession, he was a extremely productive offensive defenceman. He went on to play on the College of Ottawa after which with the Laval Rocket of the AHL — by no means actually catching the identical streak of offence.
Two years abroad, together with 46 factors in 52 video games with the Straubing Tigers of the DEL and he’s again within the system searching for an opportunity to get some NHL time. That, nevertheless, has additionally landed him on this tier as a doable depth defenceman which might change because the season progresses.
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Nicholas Moldenhauer and Noah Chadwick are two different gamers that come to thoughts that slot into this tier of the the pipeline. Neither one has made that subsequent push to progress of their growth on the street to the NHL. That doesn’t imply it received’t occur, it simply means there are others in entrance of them on the ladder as much as the massive leagues.
Moldenhauer might simply be a 3rd tier man and even bounce into that second tier relying on how his second season goes with the College of Michigan. After a 75-point marketing campaign with the Chicago Metal, his 21 factors in 41 video games at Michigan regarded like a little bit of a step again for some. Nonetheless, he’s bought a shot to climb that ladder a bit quicker than some could give him credit score for.
This tier additionally consists of Sam McCue, William Villeneuve, Victor Johansson and Timofei Obvintsev.
Tier 5
Minor-League Gamers Use for Name-Ups
Minor strikes, add-ons, name them what you need, however that is the category of prospects that may get their cup of espresso within the NHL sooner or later down the street and it may not essentially be with the Maple Leafs. Let’s observe too, that simply because they’re in tier 5 proper now, doesn’t imply they will rise above that title.
This yr’s draft class might enhance their worth in addition to former picks of the workforce, however these gamers will seemingly be one to 2 recreation fill-ins when wanted all through the following season or two.
Joe Miller is a participant that falls into this class. Drafted within the sixth spherical in 2020, he’s had some first rate seasons at Harvard within the NCAA, together with 27 factors in 32 video games in 2023-24. However there are gamers which have jumped him on the workforce’s depth chart.
Hudson Malinoski is one other participant that has a number of extra query marks round his recreation and the way far he’ll be capable of develop his expertise. That mentioned, he’s additionally a participant that may very well be a nice shock for this workforce and is likely to be a kind of hidden gems throughout the group if he can put all of it collectively.
Keep in mind, simply because they begin the yr on this tier doesn’t essentially imply that they’re caught there for good. It’s a place to begin.
This tier additionally consists of Miroslav Holinka, Jacob Quillan, Braeden Kressler, Wyatt Schingoethe, Vladislav Kara, Kirill Slepets, Mike Koster and Nathan Mayes.
Whereas it’s not an ideal system for breaking down one-by-one the Maple Leafs’ prospects, this does offer you a fast look into the place the workforce’s future stands relating to their general pipeline of draft picks and prospects.
A few of these names may very well be with the massive membership prior to later, it’s get familiarized with them. Exterior of that, the place would you rank your favorite Maple Leafs’ prospect? Agree or disagree, tell us what your ideas are.
