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 #7 and #6 of Toronto’s Top 25 Prospects with a pair of wingers; one who was an important part of the Calder Cup winning Toronto Marlies, the other who has not been seen at a Leafs rookie development camp or tournament since being drafted at the top of the second round in 2016, but has the physical tools to be an effective NHL forward.
#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)
#16 – Jesper Lindgren (Defense, HRK/Toronto Marlies – SM-Liiga/AHL)
#15 – Fedor Gordeev (Defense, Flint Firebirds - OHL)
#14 – Mason Marchment (Winger, Toronto Marlies – AHL)
#13 – Eemeli Rasanen (Defense, Kingston Frontenacs - OHL)
#12 – Adam Brooks (Center, Toronto Marlies – AHL)
#11 – Dakota Joshua (Center, Ohio State – NCAA/Big 10)
#10 – Joseph Woll (Goaltender, Boston College – NCAA)
#9 – Trevor Moore (Winger, Toronto Marlies - AHL)
#8 – Pierre Engvall (Winger, Toronto Marlies – AHL)
#7 – Dmytro Timashov (Winger, Toronto Marlies - AHL)
Another product of the Leafs successful 2015 Draft class, Timashov was selected in the fifth round (125th overall) after posting 71 assists as a rookie for the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts.
The Ukrainian-born winger played internationally for Sweden and stood out in the 2016 World Juniors and has made a successful transition to North America with a pair of solid seasons with the AHL Marlies and an excellent playoff performance, with 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in 20 games and five in the first round series against Utica.
Timashov turns 22 in October and although not big (5’10”, 185 lbs.) or a great skater, his playmaking ability and vision enables him to create offensive chances and that could eventually make him a good fit as a complimentary winger at the NHL level, but the Leafs are deep in that area.
It is tough to evaluate what kind of player Yegor Korshkov will be, since he has never been at any of the three Toronto Development Camps or two Rookie Tournaments because of his KHL commitment.
Korshkov made an impression as a member of Team Russia at the 2016 World Junior in Helsinki, leading the club with eight points. A prototypical power forward, the 6’4”, 180 lb winger was the first pick of the second round at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, ahead of current NHLer’s Alex DeBrincat and Samuel Girard.
The 22-year-old is a two-way forward who does not shy away from the corners or contact and is an excellent skater. Korshkov’s offensive numbers have climbed each season, as his role and ice time with Yaroslavl has increased.
He was expected to make the move to North America after completing his KHL contractual obligation, but in April he re-signed with Lokomotiv for another year, likely because the Leafs depth chart at the NHL and AHL level are overstocked with wingers. However, until he plays full time in North America, his ranking is based solely on his potential impact as a future top-six winger.
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