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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)
The Leafs continue to scour the US College, European and CHL ranks for potential hidden gems that can be developed into useful players, especially with the club having only three draft picks in 2021 and three in 2022. One player that Toronto took a chance on last year was QMJHL scorer Jeremy McKenna. The Summerside, PEI native scored 121 goals over three seasons with the Moncton Wildcats. After a career-high 97 points (45 goals, 52 assists) in 2019, McKenna had 82 points in 57 games and tied for third in the league with 40 goals in an abbreviated 2020 campaign.
After not being picked in three NHL Drafts and being invited to Calgary’s rookie camp in 2019, the 22-year-old was signed to an AHL deal by Toronto in April. The 5’10…, 180 lb. right-winger is known for his wrist shot and quick release, and has the ability to find space in the offensive zone to get scoring chances. McKenna’s issues are linked to his skating, but the Leafs may believe that can be improved by working with guru Barb Underhill.
With the Newfoundland Growlers shut down last season, the Leafs scrambled to find McKenna a place to play and he played 20 ECHL games in Wichita, scoring 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists). With the Marlies, the winger scored 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 28 games.
The ECHL and AHL resuming a full slate of games this year should provide the Leafs the opportunity to evaluate their players more fully. McKenna will have to improve his two-way game to carve out a permanent spot with the Marlies, otherwise he may bounce between Toronto an Newfoundland.
Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
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