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, but with players like Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott on their roster, the next step for the club 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 summer, we will rank the club’s top 25 prospects over the next few weeks based on their progress in either the NCAA, CHL, Europe or the American Hockey League and their potential to make the Leafs roster and make a contribution in the future. Players are not eligible for the list if they are 25 years old or over, or if they have played more than 30 NHL games: Top 25 list #25 – Eemeli Rasanen – D (Jokerit – KHL / Toronto Marlies – AHL) #24 – Pontus Holmberg – LW (Vaxjo HC – SHL) #23 – Mikhail Abramov – C (Victoriaville – QMJHL) #22 – Nick Abruzzese - C (Chicago – USHL) #21 – Teemu Kivihalme - D (Karpat – SM-Liiga) #20 – Riley Stotts – C (Calgary – WHL) #19 – Filip Kral - D (Spokane – WHL) #18 – Mikko Kokkonen – D (Jukurit – SM Liiga) #17 – Jesper Lindgren - D (HPK – SM Liiga / Toronto – AHL) #16 – Joseph Duszak - D (Mercyhurst – NCAA / Toronto - AHL) #15 – Mac Hollowell - D (Sault Ste. Marie – OHL / Toronto - AHL) #14 – Semyon Der-Argushintsev – C (Peterborough – OHL / Newfoundland - ECHL) #13 – Mason Marchment – LW (Toronto - AHL) #12 – Adam Brooks – C (Toronto - AHL) #11 – Ian Scott – G (Prince Albert - WHL) #10 – Dmytro Timashov – LW (Toronto - AHL) #9 – Egor Korshkov - RW (Lokomotiv - KHL / Toronto - AHL) #8 – Nick Robertson - LW (Peterborough - OHL) #7 – Joseph Woll - G (Boston College - NCAA) ******* #6 – Ilya Mikheyev – RW (Avangard Omsk - KHL) 2018 Ranking – n/a
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed European free agents over the last few years in hopes of hitting pay dirt, but have enjoyed only limited success. The club once again went that route this offseason, signing forward Ilya Mikheyev to a one-year entry-level contract.
Mikheyev thrived as a two-way player under former NHL head coach Bob Hartley in Omsk and adding a winger with size (6’2…, 194 lb) was considered a necessity by Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, with the club loaded with smaller, skilled forwards.
With the recovery from off-season knee injury likely keeping Zach Hyman from participating in training camp and playing early in the season, there has been speculation that the left-handed shooting Russian will shift to left wing and get an opportunity to play in Toronto’s top nine. Whether that position is temporary will be up to Mikheyev.
Mikheyev just can't be stopped! His 2nd of the game and it's 3:2 lead for Omsk. pic.twitter.com/3FT9Isgh1X
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) April 4, 2019
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We’re up. @MikeInBuffalo @IamNormanJames #TMLtalk #TheLeafsConvo #LeafsForever #NHL https://t.co/Pndh06PRbK
— The Leafs Convo (@TheLeafsConvo) August 23, 2019