The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL, but with players like Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott on their roster, the next step for the club 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 summer, we will rank 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 are not eligible for the list if they are 25 years old or over, or if they have played more than 30 NHL games:
Top 25 list
#25 – Eemeli Rasanen – D (Jokerit – KHL / Toronto Marlies – AHL)
#24 – Pontus Holmberg – LW (Vaxjo HC – SHL)
#23 – Mikhail Abramov – C (Victoriaville – QMJHL)
#22 – Nick Abruzzese - C (Chicago – USHL)
#21 – Teemu Kivihalme - D (Karpat – SM-Liiga)
#20 – Riley Stotts – C (Calgary – WHL)
#19 – Filip Kral - D (Spokane – WHL)
#18 – Mikko Kokkonen – D (Jukurit – SM Liiga)
#17 – Jesper Lindgren - D (HPK – SM Liiga / Toronto – AHL)
#16 – Joseph Duszak - D (Mercyhurst – NCAA / Toronto - AHL)
#15 – Mac Hollowell - D (Sault Ste. Marie – OHL / Toronto - AHL)
#14 – Semyon Der-Argushintsev – C (Peterborough – OHL / Newfoundland - ECHL)
#13 – Mason Marchment – LW (Toronto - AHL)
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#12 – Adam Brooks – C (Toronto - AHL)
2018 Ranking – 12
Brooks was a late bloomer that went undrafted twice before breaking out with a 120-point season with the WHL’s Regina Pats in 2016 and being selected 92nd overall by the Leafs at the NHL Draft in Buffalo. As an overager in 2017, the Winnipeg, MB native finished one point behind teammate Sam Steel for the WHL scoring title with 130 points (43 goals, 87 assists) and signed an entry-level contract with Toronto.
The 5’10”, 175 lb. center struggled to find his place early on with the Toronto Marlies, playing mostly a bottom six role. After scoring only seven points in his first 44 AHL games, Brooks began to get more scoring opportunities higher up in the lineup and time on the power play with Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson called up to the Leafs.
In the Marlies run to the Calder Cup, Brooks provided a matchup problem for the opposition playing on the fourth line with Trevor Moore and Mason Marchment, scoring six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 20 games.
With the departure of Miro Aaltonen, Ben Smith and Frederik Gauthier’s promotion to the Leafs, Brooks moved up into a top six role with the Marlies last season and doubled his point total, with 40 points (21 goals, 19 assists) in 61 games.
Reunited with Moore and Marchment, Brooks led the young Marlies with six playoff goals in 13 games.
With the addition of veteran Jason Spezza, Brooks path to the NHL may be blocked for another season, but if he continues to his upward trend in his third AHL season, he will solidify his position as the club’s best center prospect in the organization and put himself at the front of the line to replace Spezza on the fourth line in 2020 or to be the first callup in case of injury this season.
Adam Brooks is red-hot tonight. Scores his second of the game with 8:23 left in the second period, giving the #Marlies a 2-1 lead. Assist: LoVerde pic.twitter.com/5elsaTzMby
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