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 Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen and Travis Dermott now on their roster, the next step for the club is to keep replenishing the prospect pool to provide the Leafs with youngsters who can take step and replace veterans who retire, depart via free agency or are traded. With some input from Sportsology’s Russ Cohen and Gus Katsaros of McKeen’s Hockey, we are ranking 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 such as Dermott, Kapanen, Frederik Gauthier, Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen, Josh Leivo, Garret Sparks and Justin Holl are not eligible because they have played more than 30 NHL games or are over the age of 23. We continue the list today with #17 and #16 of Toronto’s Top 25 Prospects with pair of young blueliners. #25 – JD Greenway (Defense, Dubuque Fighting Saints – USHL) #24 – Ian Scott (Goaltender, Prince Albert Raiders – WHL) #23 - Martins Dzierkals (Winger, Orlando/ Toronto – ECHL/AHL) #22 - Andrew Nielsen (Defense, Toronto Marlies – AHL) #21 – Riley Stotts (Center, Swift Current/Calgary Hitmen - WHL) #20 – Filip Kral (Defense, Spokane Chiefs – WHL) #19 – Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Center, Peterborough Petes - OHL) #18 – Mac Hollowell (Defense, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – OHL) #17 – Sean Durzi (Defense, Owen Sound Attack - OHL)
Another example of Kyle Dubas and the Leafs scouting staff relying on their familiarity with players in the OHL and those that they have intimate knowledge of. Like fourth rounder Mac Hollowell, the 19-year-old Durzi was an invitee to the Leafs Development Camp in 2017 after not being selected in the NHL Draft in Chicago and took the things he learned from the club and applied them in his third season with Owen Sound, registering a career-high 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists) in just 40 games during the regular season and led the Attack with 16 points in the OHL Playoffs. The 6’0…, 195 lb. right hander is another example of the direction that the Leafs and the league is going towards with blueliners, with an emphasis on skill and puck rushing ability. Durzi is an offensive defenseman and is old enough to play in the American Hockey League this season, but the Leafs will likely have him return to Owen Sound for another season of heavy ice time before embarking on his professional career.
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— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 10, 2018
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