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The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander), but the focus of prospect development under former GM Kyle Dubas and the last few seasons under Director of Amateur Scouting Wes Clark seemed to be on skill players, while GM Brad Treliving has begun to transition with a focus on young players with size.
As we did last year, we will rank the club’s top prospects over the upcoming weeks based on their progress in either the NCAA, CHL, Europe, ECHL or AHL and their potential to make the Leafs roster and contribute in the future.
Youngsters like Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll, Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and top rated Matthew Knies have graduated, but here is a list of players eligible for the list who have not played more than 40 NHL games and are 25 years old or younger:
#40 - Wyatt Schingoethe – C (Western Michigan – NCAA)
2023 Ranking - #37
Toronto had three picks in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft and at #195 overall, the Leafs selected center Wyatt Schingoethe. The Algonquin, IL native averaged 35 points in his first two years for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks and took a step back in 2020-21, scoring 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 44 games.
The 5’11, 181 lb. center had previously been committed to Notre Dame and Denver University, but committed to Western Michigan in 2021.
Wyatt Schingoethe (#18) finally buried his 1st career NCAA goal on Tuesday against Michigan Tech. 25th game of his career with Western Michigan, been challenging for the 7th-rounder to find ice time on an experienced WMU squad.
The 21-year-old is described as being conscientious in his own zone, helping support the defense, and is an effective forechecker. HockeyProspect.com’s Black Book says that “his hockey sense is a positive at both ends of the rink” and that “he’s an all-situation player” whose “shooting and shot release game are one of his better attributes.”
In his freshman season, Schingoethe saw limited ice time and went scoreless in 20 games for WMU. In 2023 as a sophomore, he played only nine games scoring one goal and one assist. There was some expectation that the winger could use the NCAA transfer portal to find a school to give him more playing time and opportunity, but he stayed with Western Michigan and played 24 games, but registered four assists. At this point, Schingoethe appears to be a longshot to earn a pro contract of any kind, but if he has a good senior season, he could attract some attention.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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