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)
#12 – Adam Brooks – C (Toronto - AHL)
#11 – Ian Scott – G (Prince Albert - WHL)
#10 – Dmytro Timashov – LW (Toronto - AHL)
#9 – Egor Korshkov - RW (Lokomotiv - KHL / Toronto - AHL)
#8 – Nick Robertson - LW (Peterborough - OHL)
#7 – Joseph Woll - G (Boston College - NCAA)
#6 – Ilya Mikheyev – RW (Avangard Omsk - KHL)
*******
#5 – Pierre Engvall – LW/C (Toronto - AHL)
2018 Ranking – 8
Pierre Engvall is an example of how it is possible to find good prospects deep in the draft. The Leafs selected the big winger 188th overall at the 2014 NHL Draft out of Swedish developmental system.
After briefly playing in the SHL as an 18-year-old, Engvall played two seasons in Sweden’s second division with Mora IK before playing full time in 2017-18 with HV71 and scoring 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games.
The 23-year-old joined the Marlies in late March on an amateur tryout and thrived in his first stint in North America, scoring eight points (4 goals and 4 assists) in nine games. Engvall fit in well on the “jumbo line” with Frederik Gauthier and Colin Greening that was integral to the Marlies Calder Cup victory, posting eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 20 playoff games, and during the postseason run was signed to a two-year entry-level contract.
In his first full season in North America, the big forward continued to show development at both ends of the ice, scoring 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) and playing multiple positions. When the Marlies had injury problems up the middle, Engvall moved to center and was so effective that head coach Sheldon Keefe kept him there through the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Engvall is an excellent skater, a long wingspan, possesses the size (6’4”, 220 lb.) that head coach Mike Babcock is looking for up front, and is also developing at the offensive end of the ice.
With the addition of veteran Jason Spezza, it is likely that Engvall will start the season in the AHL unless he is shifted back to the wing, but he already appears to have a more complete game and upside than Frederik Gauthier and may be in position to be the Leafs fourth line center in 2020.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»