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)
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#9 – Egor Korshkov - RW (Lokomotiv - KHL / Toronto - AHL)
2018 Ranking – 6
It has been tough to evaluate what kind of player Yegor Korshkov will be, since he had never been at any rookie development camps or pre-season tournaments because of his commitment to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, but the big Russian winger completed his contractual commitment in the KHL and agreed to a two-year entry-level deal in May and gave Leafs fans a preview of what he could be with a nine-game stint with the Marlies during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
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, Carter Hart, and Samuel Girard.
The 23-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, but last season he was limited to just five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 19 games due to a shoulder injury. After playing in nine games in the KHL Playoffs, he was inserted into the Marlies lineup in Game 2 of their second-round series against Cleveland.
The lanky forward was energetic, physical and scored a goal in his first game in North America, but seemed to settle back after that, going scoreless in the next eight playoff games. With Mike Babcock’s want of size on the wing, Korshkov may be given an extra look at the Leafs upcoming training camp, but barring a holdout of RFA Mitch Marner into the regular season, he will likely start next season in the AHL.
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