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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 - Jeremy McKenna – RW (Wichita – ECHL, Toronto – AHL) #39 – Ryan Tverberg – C (Connecticut – NCAA)
#38 – Ryan O’Connell – D (Ohio State – NCAA)
O’Connell was the Leafs final pick in the seventh round of 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago. The Gloucester, ON (suburb of Ottawa) native played for Junior 67’s for three years and St. Andrew’s College prep school before playing for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and going through a long rehab for a broken arm.
Originally committed to Boston University, O’Connell ended up going to play for Ohio State and has played two seasons for the Buckeyes in the Big 10. The 6’1…, 185 lb. blueliner is known for his skating ability, hockey IQ and being adept at possessing the puck, but his offensive skills have not shown themselves yet in the NCAA, as the 22-year-old has just two goals in 87 games.
Unlike some Toronto prospects, O’Connell did get the benefit of playing in a COVID year, playing 27 games for the Buckeyes, but the 6’2…, 170 lb. blueliner still appears to be one-dimensional, posting just six assists in 27 games.
O’Connell has another year of college eligibility remaining before Toronto will have to make a decision on signing him, and they will hope to see growth in all aspects of his game to make their decision a difficult one.
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