Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Pierre Engvall, Travis Dermott and Justin Holl, but the next step for the club under GM Kyle Dubas is to keep replenishing the prospect pool to provide the Leafs with youngsters who can step up and replace veterans who retire, depart via free agency or are traded. As we did last year, we will rank the club’s top prospects over the next few weeks based on their progress in either the NCAA, CHL, Europe, ECHL or AHL and their potential to make the Leafs roster and make a contribution in the future. Players are eligible for the list if they have not played more than 40 NHL games: #40 – J.D. Greenway – D (Maine – NCAA) #39 – Eemeli Rasanen – D (HPK – Finland SM-Liiga) #38 – Jeremy McKenna – RW (Moncton – QMJHL) #37 – Ryan O’Connell – D (Ohio State – NCAA) #36 – Veeti Miettinen – RW (St. Cloud St. – NCAA) #35 - Semyon Kizimov – RW (Lada Togliatti – VHL / Torpedo – KHL) #34 - Kalle Loponen – D (Karpat – Finland SM-Liiga) #33 - Vladislav Kara – LW (Cherepovets Severstal – KHL) #32 - John Fusco – D (Harvard – NCAA) #31 - Wyatt Schingoethe – C (Waterloo – USHL) #30 - William Villeneuve – D (Saint John – QMJHL) #29 - Joe Miller – C (Chicago – USHL) #28 - Axel Rindell – D (Jukurit – Finland SM-Liiga) #27 - Kristians Rubins - D (Toronto - AHL / Frederikshavn - Denmark) #26 - Justin Brazeau - RW (Newfoundland - ECHL / Toronto - AHL) #25 – Dmitry Ovchinnikov – F (Sibir Novosibirsk – MHL/KHL) #24 – Artur Akhtyamov – G (Ak Bars Kazan – MHL/VHL/KHL) #23 – Noel Hoefenmayer – D (Ottawa – OHL / Wichita ECHL) #22 – Roni Hirvonen – C (Assat Pori – Finland SM-Liiga) #21 – Teemu Kivihalme - D (Toronto - AHL) #20 – Pontus Holmberg – LW (Vaxjo HC – SHL
#19 – Filip Kral - D (HC Prerov / Kometa Brno - Czech)
The Leafs selected four blueliners at the 2018 Draft in Dallas and Kral (a Czech native playing for Spokane of the WHL) was chosen in the fifth round (149th overall). In three seasons with the Chiefs, showed significant growth, scoring 35, 36 and 49 points and playing for the Czech Republic in the 2018 and 2019 World Junior Championships.
Filip Kral (@MapleLeafs) keeps scoring goals and making moves in the #Extraliga.
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) December 21, 2020
🎥https://t.co/kqA0No6rrn pic.twitter.com/71JhYzjPVX
As with the other defensemen (Rasmus Sandin and Mac Hollowell) selected by GM Kyle Dubas in his first draft, the 6’1…, 171 lb. blueliner is heavy on skill, skating ability and hockey IQ in the offensive zone
Toronto faced a signing deadline with Kral, and signed him to a three-year entry-level deal in April. The plan was to play him in either the ECHL or American Hockey League this season, but with both leagues shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Leafs sent the blueliner back home to get some playing time.
Kral finished tonight’s game with a goal, two assists and the shootout winner. pic.twitter.com/qd12Lay89m
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) December 21, 2020
After averaging over a point per game for second-tier HC Prerov, Kral was promoted to HC Kometa Brno and has nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 19 games. With the Newfoundland Growlers opting out this season and the AHL Marlies campaign in question, it is likely that the 21-year-old finishes out his year in Europe and returns to North America in 2021.
*******
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******