The star of the third day of Maple Leafs prospect camp was 2013 third round pick Carter Verhaeghe, who scored once during the Blue–White scrimmage, once short handed during a 5 on 4 power play drill and again during a shootout.
The 18 year old center has played a secondary role with the OHL Niagara Ice Dogs behind Islanders 2011 first rounder Ryan Strome, but with Strome likely bound for New York this fall, the Waterdown, ON native will be given a larger share of the responsibilities with the junior club.
“Some of the big guys are leaving, so I’ll develop into a different role in camp there and I’m going to try to make the most of my opportunity.” Verhaeghe said
While 2012 top pick Morgan Rielly and 2013 first rounder Frederik Gauthier have been the focal points of observers at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, three Swedish defenseman have put on an impressive display in the two days of game action.
20 year old Petter Granberg was paired with Rielly for the second day in a row and appeared comfortable playing the "stay at home" role as the more offensive minded Rielly skated up the ice, pressing the offensive attack and creating scoring opportunities.
Prospect Petter Granberg patrols the blueline
The Leafs brass are impressed with 2010 fourth rounder's physical and mental maturity and his record of success over the last two seasons, as part of Sweden’s gold medal efforts at the 2012 World Juniors, the 2013 SEL Championship with Skelleftea AIK and gold in the 2013 World Championships.
The plan may be to give Granberg time to acclimate himself to the North American game by starting in the AHL, but being a right handed shooting defenseman may put him on an escalated track to the NHL.
Defenseman Viktor Loov opened some eyes scoring a nice goal on a penalty shot during the scrimmage and registering a number of hits. The 20 year old is slated to play in the SEL next season, but the 209th overall selection in '12 Draft impressed Leafs director of player development Jim Hughes with his mobility and willingness to lay the body on a number of opposing forwards.
“It’s not surprising, he handled himself great again today because he can skate and when you can skate, it’s gets you out of a lot of trouble and fixes a lot of problems.” Hughes said “(Loov)’s capable of leaning on people and capable of playing with some aggression and some physicality and that’s what you are seeing from him."
2012 fourth rounder Tom Nilsson made a dramatic statement of the type of player he may become on Wednesday as he laid out 2013 draftee Fabrice Herzog with a hard open ice hit.
Nilsson opened eyes at the 2013 World Juniors in Ufa, Russia, filling the void on an injury depleted Swedish blueline. In spite of being of average size(6’0” 176 lbs), the 19 year old enjoys playing a physical brand of hockey and will hone his game for another season in the SEL before coming to North America.
An example of Nilsson's hitting style
“He has a physical ability, he has the ability to have open ice hits….he does at the right time in the game.” Hughes said “He’s a real strong player, he’s got a North American style and has lots of sandpaper.”
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Defenseman Matt Finn did not participate in the second day of scrimmages on Thursday. Finn, Toronto’s second rounder in 2012, was held out for precautionary reasons after suffering a lower body injury on Wednesday.
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