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The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Pierre Engvall, and Justin Holl), but the club under GM Kyle Dubas has 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 upcoming 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 - Vladislav Kara – LW (Yugra - VHL) #39 - Kalle Loponen – D (Koo Koo Kouvola/JyP HT – Finland SM-Liiga) #38 - Jeremy McKenna – RW (Wichita – ECHL, Toronto – AHL) #37 - John Fusco – D (Harvard – NCAA) #36 - Noel Hoefenmayer – D (Newfoundland – ECHL, Toronto – AHL) #35 - Ryan Chyzowski - LW (Newfoundland - ECHL, Toronto - AHL) #34 - Braeden Kressler - C (Flint - OHL) #33 - Nikita Grebyonkin - RW (Stalnye Lisy - MHL, Magnitogorsk - KHL) #32 - Vyacheslav Peksa - G (Ibris Kazan - MHL) #31 - Dryden McKay - G (Minnesota Duluth - NCAA) #30 - Bobby McMann - C (Newfoundland - ECHL, Toronto - AHL) #29 - Pavel Gogolev – LW (Newfoundland - ECHL, Toronto – AHL) #28 - Joe Miller – C (Chicago – USHL) #27 - Veeti Miettinen – RW (St. Cloud St. – NCAA) #26 - Brandon Lisowsky - LW (Saskatoon - WHL) #25 - Max Ellis - RW (Notre Dame - NCAA, Toronto - AHL) #24 - Axel Rindell – D (Karpat – Finland SM-Liiga) #23 - Mac Hollowell - D (Toronto – AHL) #22 - Artur Akhtyamov – G (Ak Bars Kazan – MHL/VHL/KHL) #21 - Semyon Der-Argushintsev - C (Toronto - AHL) #20 - Curtis Douglas - C (Toronto – AHL) #19 - Mikhail Abramov – C (Toronto – AHL) #18 - Dennis Hildeby - G (Farjestad - SHL) #17 - Ty Voit – LW (Sarnia – OHL) #16 - Filip Kral - D (Toronto - AHL) #15 - Nick Moldenhauer - RW (Chicago - USHL)
#14 - Rodion Amirov – LW (Ufa Salavat – KHL)
NOTE – Amirov is being included in the prospect list after the report earlier this month that he hopes to resume his hockey career this fall following favorable reports on his health situation.
The Toronto Maple Leafs turned clearing cap space into a future asset prior to the 2020 NHL Draft, as GM Kyle Dubas was able to get a first-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deal for winger Kasperi Kapanen and with the 15th pick overall, the Leafs selected winger Rodion Amirov.
In his draft year, Amirov played for Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior in the Czech Republic, the Canada/Russia Super Series, the Spengler Cup and in 21 KHL games for hometown Salavat Yulaev Ufa, and after being selected impressed internationally at the Karjala Cup and scored six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in seven games at the 2021 World Junior in Edmonton. The Hockey Prospect.com. Black Book described Amirov as a skilled, two-way winger who plays a finesse style of game.
#Leafs 2020 first-round pick Rodion Amirov made his return from injury yesterday, playing 11:54 TOI at 3RW in Salavat's 4-2 win against SKA.
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) September 24, 2021
Amirov had a primary assist on the game-winning goal to go with 2 shots on goal pic.twitter.com/aIxNhqCLlx
“Rodion is very difficult to pin down or gain a read on. This is in large part due to the combination of skating deception and craftiness he’s displayed. There’s a slipperiness to his style of play that allows him to take advantage of the game both in tight areas around the goal line and boards, as well as open space. The first factor that gives him his elusiveness and unpredictability is his skating.…
After scoring 13 points (9 goals, 4 assists) in 39 games for Ufa and an excellent showing for Team Russia at the 2021 World Junior, the Leafs signed Amirov to a three-year entry-level contract.
Amirov was in and out of the lineup in the preseason after having suffered a head injury last season, and had lingering symptoms that eventually revealed the tumor. The 20-year-old underwent chemotherapy treatment in Germany, but earlier this month the Russian outlet Sport-Express reported that he hopes to return to the ice this fall.
When I didn't want to train my parents forced me to and I'm very grateful for it and the doctor also recommended to train and not to stop. Psychologically, it was more difficult than physically. But I'm a believer, I'm religious and believe in God and the faith helped me out not to fall. To be positive all the time and to have a positive outlook on everything."
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