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 #15 and #14 of Toronto’s Top 25 Prospects with big defensive prospect and an undrafted forward who was an integral part of the Toronto Marlies Calder Cup Championship.
#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)
Gordeev and his parents emigrated from Russian and settled in the GTA when he was eight and the big defenseman was selected 141st overall by Toronto in the 2017 NHL Draft.
The unlike some of the other towering blueliners selected in the last two drafts by former Asst. GM Mark Hunter (Keaton Middleton, Nicolas Mattinen and Eemeli Rasanen), the 6’6”, 211 lb Gordeef has excellent mobility due to his being converted from forward. His offensive numbers nearly doubled in his second full OHL season with Flint and after initial struggles in his own end, the 19-year-old began to show improvement defensively.
The Leafs have another year to gauge Gordeef’s development before they have to decide whether to sign him to an entry-level deal, but that would be likely if he continues to improve and with the noticeable lack of size on defense in the Toronto pipeline.
Fedor Gordeev continued to show off his offensive skillset as he scored the OT winner to lead Flint over Saginaw 3-2 #OHLpic.twitter.com/qxVx2Z5n6y
#14 – Mason Marchment (Winger, Toronto Marlies – AHL)
Marchment is an example of the Leafs giving an undrafted free agent a chance and a young player making the most of an opportunity. The son of former NHLer Bryan Marchment played for three different OHL clubs, was invited to the Leafs Development Camp in 2016 and was signed to an AHL contract.
The 6’4”. 201 lb winger scored 14 goals in 35 games for Orlando in the ECHL in 2017 and earned a promotion to the AHL. The 23-year-old exceeded expectations last season and contributed offensively (26 points in 44 games for the Marlies during the regular season) and was signed to an entry-level deal by Toronto, but his effectiveness in the Calder Cup Playoffs (6 goals in 20 games) is an indicator that he could eventually reach the NHL.
The lanky winger's line with Trevor Moore and Adam Brooks caused match up problems for the Marlies opponents throughout the postseason. Marchment’s skating has improved by leaps and bounds, he is more than willing to go into the dirty areas and has a knack of getting under the skin of the opposition.
If he builds on last year’s success, Marchment could be a candidate for a fourth-line energy forward by 2019.
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