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)
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#4 – Trevor Moore – LW/RW (Toronto – AHL / Toronto - NHL)
2018 Ranking – 9
Trevor Moore is the poster child for the Leafs improved talent recognition and player development. After scoring more than a point per game in his last two seasons at the University of Denver, the California-born Moore was invited to Toronto’s Development Camp in 2016 and impressed them enough to sign the undrafted college free agent to a three-year entry level deal.
The 24-year-old put up decent numbers in two seasons (33 points each) with the Marlies and came to the forefront in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs, finishing second in team scoring with 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) on a fourth line unit with Mason Marchment and Adam Brooks, which was integral to Toronto winning an AHL title.
Moore took a major step forward offensively last season, scoring 17 goals in his first 27 AHL games and earning a call up to the Leafs in late December. In spite of playing well in his three-week stint, the speedy winger was returned to the Marlies, but soon after he was signed to a two-year, $1.55 Million contract extension.
In 25 games with the Leafs, Moore played mostly fourth line duty with Frederik Gauthier and Tyler Ennis and had eight points (2 goals, 6 assists). He scored a goal in the seven-game first-round loss to Boston before returning to the AHL and helping the Marlies get to the Eastern Conference Final with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in 10 games.
The 5’10”, 175 lb. winger displayed the skating ability, skill and versatility at both levels last season, which makes it hard to imagine him not being in the Leafs lineup for the season opener next month.
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