***Olympic Update***
Maple Leafs wingers Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk combined for six points in a dominating 7-1 victory for Team USA over Slovakia on Thursday.
Kessel and JVR assisted on John Carlson's opening goal in the first and combined again on David Backes goal that made it 4-1. The Leafs leading scorer tipped in van Riemsdyk's shot later in the middle frame, in which the Americans scored six unanswered goals after Tomas Tatar scored early in the second to tie the game.
Nikolai Kulemin went scoreless in a 5-2 Team Russia victory over Slovenia and former Leaf Leo Komarov did not score in Finland's 8-4 win over Austria.
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Here is part two of the update on the Leafs future prospects in the CHL, NCAA or in Europe.
2012 Draft
The Guelph Storm team captain will turn 20 on February 24 and is enjoying a healthy and successful season after an injury plagued 2012-13 season. Finn is averaging over a point-per-game and picked up nine points(2G, 7A) and a league-high plus-minus rating of plus-11 from in three games from February 3 to 9.
The 19-year-old Toninato has not put up sparkling numbers in his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth. The 19-year-old has four goals and seven assists in 25 games, but has gone scoreless in his last five games after registering two assists against Minnesota State on January 24th..
The 20-year-old Brown continues to lead the OHL in scoring with 107 points(39 goals, 68 assists) and an impressive +37 in 53 games for the Otters. Brown signed a three-year entry level deal with the Leafs in November and could be part of a Memorial Cup run for the Otters and may join the Toronto Marlies after his OHL season is complete.
Check out Brown and Connor McDavid combining on a goal against the London Knights:
The feisty Rupert continues to be an effective player for the powerhouse Knights, averaging close to a point-per-game, but the 19-year-old center was benched for the first period of a 7-3 win over Owen Sound on February 7 because of some undisciplined play in London’s previous game against the Barrie Colts. The Leafs have yet to sign the smallish center to a contract and will have to do so before next June to prevent him from re-entering the NHL Draft.
The Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby reported in late January that Leafs higher ups wanted to see how the 21-year-old prospect was progressing in his first season with Modo after the 2014 World Juniors, but Loov suffered a broken jaw and is expected to be out until early March.
2011 Draft
The hard hitting, defensive-minded Nilsson has two goals in 44 games with Frolunda in his first SHL season. The Leafs 2011 4th round pick is expected to come to North America next season, following the same path as Marlies blueliner Petter Granberg.
The smallish Cameranesi has 15 points in 26 games for UMD in his sophomore season and is second on the club with 11 assists. He scored a goal and an assist against Western Michigan on January 31.
Everson has played fifteen games for the Harvard Crimson this season and showed a bit of offense in the Beanpot consolation game with two assists in a 6-2 victory over Boston University.
2009 Draft
Knodel could be considered the forgotten Leafs prospect. The 6'6" 225 lb native of suburban Philadelphia is team captain of the University of New Hampshire and is tied for the defensive scoring lead on the club with Trevor van Riemsdyk(brother of James) with 23 points. The big blueliner is in his senior year and once UNH's season ends can be signed by the Leafs to a pro contract.
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