Leafs Prospect Watch – Part I, Due Diligence On Drouin (maple leafs)

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Leafs Prospect Watch – Part I, Due Diligence On Drouin

By Mike Augello

Jan 9, 2016 • 7:34 pm

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In the wake of the performances of Mitch Marner, Travis Dermott, Dmytro Timashov and Kasperi Kapanen at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, the Toronto Maple Leafs have to be more encouraged about the young talent in their pipeline than at any time in recent history.

The club’s transition has overseen the exodus of over half of the pro contracts on the roster at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Players currently with the Toronto Marlies and those playing in Europe or the NCAA will likely be first in line for an opportunity to earn a job in the NHL, while youngsters from the 2014 and 2015 Draft classes are brought along slowly by playing an extra year in junior or the American Hockey League.

Here is an update on the Leafs prospects currently playing in the OHL, QMJHL, WHL, NCAA and Europe:

2015 Draft

After scoring four goals in the WJC for Team Canada, the 18-year-old played his first OHL game for London since early December and teamed with line mates Matthew Tkachuk and Christian Dvorak on two Knights goals in a 3-1 win over Flint on Friday.

In spite of being away for over a month, Marner is fourth in OHL scoring with 60 points.

The Maple Leafs 2015 second round selection gained valuable experience at the WJC(and registered 2 assists in 5 games) , but will need to continue on a positive track to become an NHL defenseman.

"Travis has got to make sure he keeps his pace going and keep improving and make sure he's doing things faster," Leafs Dirctor of Play Personnel Mark Hunter said to NHL.com earlier this week . "Every amateur player coming out of junior hockey, you have to make sure your pace is there. It's so fast in the NHL and in the American League. I think Travis and all young players have to work at (it).

Dermott got off to a good start to the second half of his OHL season, scoring a third period tying goal and an overtime power-play goal in a 2-1 Erie Otters victory over Flint on Friday.

The diminutive Long Island native surprisingly did not get selected by Team USA for the WJC, whose offensive skills could have come in handy in low scoring losses to Sweden and Russia.

The snub seems to have motivated Bracco, who has five goals and 10 assists in his last nine games for the Kitchener Rangers, including a two-point performance in a 4-2 win over Hamilton on Friday.

Nielsen is making his selection in the third round (65th overall) last June look pretty good for the Leafs. The big 19-year-old leads all WHL defensemen with 44 points (9 goals, 35 assists in 41 games), which included an eight-game point streak that was snapped on Friday. The 6’3… 207 lb blueliner also leads the Hurricanes in plus/minus (+22) and penalty minutes (72).

The 18-year-old winger missed most of December helping Latvia win the qualification tournament for the 2017 World Junior in Toronto and Montreal next December.

The Leafs third-round pick scored a hat-trick and an assist in a 6-0 victory over Blainville-Boisbriand on December 30.

The 18-year-old defenseman is playing his first full season with MODO is the SHL and based on the development model being implemented by Toronto, will likely remain in Sweden for another couple years before coming over to play in the American Hockey League.

Lindgren scored his third goal of the season on Saturday in a 3-2 victory over Djurgarden.

The Leafs fifth rounder put up impressive numbers with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts during the first half, but really started to get recognized as a potential steal at the 2016 World Junior after filling the offensive void created by the injury to William Nylander.

"He's a superb passer, he made some elite passes in that tournament where you go, 'Wow that is pretty special.' And I think he did that consistently where sometimes (with) young players, consistency is a problem. Consistently, he was one of the better players for Sweden in this tournament." Hunter said.

Timashov scored two goals and five assists in the tournament, playing mostly with Nylander’s younger brother Alex, a potential top-10 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

"I think people have noticed how good he is," Hunter said after the tournament. "I don't think he was getting recognition. Now I think people see he's a good prospect for the Leafs. The sky is the limit. He's got more room to grow as a player. He sure showed his ability and talent in this tournament."

The 19-year-old returned from Finland and was promptly traded in the Q from Quebec to Shawinigan. In his opening game, Timashov registered four assists in a 6-2 win over Drummondville and is now 8th in league scoring with 57 points and in the top-five in assists (39).

Desrocher won a Memorial Cup with Leafs assistant coach DJ Smith in Oshawa and was traded to Kingston in November. The Frontenacs appear to be trying to make a run at an OHL championship by adding another former General, Michael Dal Colle via trade last week. Both ex-Generals scored a pair of goals in a 5-2 win against their former club on Friday.

The 18-year-old Russian led the OHL’s Sarnia Sting in scoring last season, but lasted until the 7th round because of his awkward skating style.

Korostelev is second on the Sting with 13 goals and with Devils top pick Pavel Zacha, 2016 draft prospect Jakob Chychrun and Flyers first rounder Travis Konecny added via trade last week, Sarnia may challenge London and Erie for an OHL title. Sunday : Part II – Prospects from 2011 – 2014

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The Maple Leafs will be open to almost any avenue to add talent as the club continues their transition under Brendan Shanahan and Lou Lamoriello and it appears that the club is among many to have interest in 2013 third overall pick Jonathan Drouin.

The 20-year-old winger scored two goals in the first period in Albany in front of a gathering of NHL scouts on Friday and according to the Syracuse Post-Standard’s Twitter feed, eight NHL teams (including Toronto) are represented at the Crunch’s home contest against Hershey on Saturday.

The Lightning are reportedly looking for a young defenseman in exchange for Drouin.

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