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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 club under former GM Kyle Dubas replenished their prospect pool to provide the Leafs with young prospects. It will now be up to new GM Brad Treliving to continue that work.
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 make a contribution in the future.
Players are eligible for the list if they have not played more than 40 NHL games and are 25 years old or younger:
#40 Rodion Amirov – LW (Ufa Salavat – KHL, Did Not Play)
#39 Ryan Chyzowski - LW (Newfoundland - ECHL, Toronto - AHL)
#38 Dryden McKay - G (Newfoundland - ECHL, Toronto - AHL)
#37 Wyatt Schingoethe – C (Western Michigan – NCAA)
#36 Zach Solow - RW (Newfoundland - ECHL, Toronto - AHL)
#35 John Fusco – D (Dartmouth – NCAA)
#34 Kalle Loponen – D (Koo Koo Kouvola/HPK – Finland SM-Liiga)
#33 Noah Chadwick - D (Lethbridge - WHL)
#32 Semyon Kizimov - RW (Nizhnekamsk/Yekaterinberg - KHL)
#31 Max Ellis – RW (Toronto – AHL)
The Leafs continue to scour the US College, European and CHL ranks for potential hidden gems that can be developed into useful players. After having just three picks in the 2021 Draft, Toronto looked to the free agent route to add more to their prospect pool and signed forward Max Ellis to a two-year entry-level contract.
The Plymouth, Michigan native was teammates with Notre Dame alum and Marlies forward Alex Steeves for two seasons and led the Fighting Irish in goals (16) and points (28) last season.
The winger played two seasons with Youngstown in the USHL and opted for the NCAA over playing with OHL Peterborough due in part to his lack of size (5’9”, 141 lbs.).
After three years at Notre Dame, the 23-year-old is 171 lbs. and more able to withstand the rigors of professional hockey. After playing only two games at the end of the 2021-22 campaign for the Marlies, Ellis saw regular playing time for Toronto last season.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of growth for him, adapting to this level,”
Former Marlies head coach Greg Moore said of Ellis in the middle of last season. “I don’t think we need to focus on a narrative for him with points on points or what it is for him to get to the next level. It’s his first year, he’s learning what the league is, he’s adapting very well and he’s on a good trajectory.”
Ellis worked his way up from bottom-six ice time and responsibilities and was able to score 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 49 games and began to see playing time higher in the lineup as the season progressed.
The coaching change from Moore to John Gruden may have an effect on a number of player’s trajectories, but Ellis being a tenacious worker should hold him in good stead as he enters his second pro season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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