On this version of Toronto Maple Leafs Information & Rumors, I’ll dig into three matters affecting the group as they put together for the upcoming season. First, I’ll share insights in regards to the evolving depth of the Maple Leafs prospect pool. Second, I’ll have a look at what looks as if the group’s ongoing seek for a left-winger regardless of what I feel are viable inside choices. Third, I’ll marvel what we will inform about new head coach Craig Berube as he constructs his roster.
Merchandise One: The Maple Leafs’ Prospect Pool Is Rising
The Maple Leafs’ prospect pool is step by step enhancing. The group climbed to twenty third place in Steven Ellis’ Every day Faceoff pre-season prospect pool rankings. Though that is only a modest one-spot bounce from final 12 months’s twenty fourth place, it isn’t dangerous contemplating Toronto’s ongoing battle to develop top-tier expertise whereas making an attempt to compete throughout the postseason.
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Ellis factors out that the Maple Leafs haven’t drafted a big-name prospect for a while, a state of affairs not unusual for groups that persistently combat to enhance their roster for the playoffs. Consequently, the Maple Leafs usually commerce on the deadline for veteran gamers as short-term leases. This transfer prices the group helpful prospects or draft picks 12 months after 12 months. That stated, the prospect pool options some promising names. One of the best prospects are Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, and Topi Niemelä.
Cowan, the Maple Leafs’ first-round choose in 2023, has rapidly established himself because the group’s prime prospect. His distinctive season, together with setting a London Knights franchise file for many consecutive video games with a degree (it ended at 36), has put him on the quick monitor to the NHL. As a result of Cowan can’t play the season within the American Hockey League (AHL) due to his age, he’s pushing exhausting for a roster spot. The most important non-story of the offseason is whether or not Cowan will make the roster out of coaching camp. The Maple Leafs appear to be getting ready for him NOT to be on the squad (and I’ll speak about that in Merchandise Two under); nonetheless, I can’t think about – until issues genuinely disintegrate within the preseason – that he gained’t Connor Bedard it and change into an everyday a part of the beginning lineup.
Minten, drafted within the second spherical of the 2022 NHL Draft, additionally exhibits excellent promise. After a shocking begin with the large membership final 12 months, Minten will doubtless start this season within the AHL. He, too, stays a robust candidate for future NHL obligation. Niemelä, the group’s prime defensive prospect, had a stable first AHL season in 2023-24, amassing 39 factors in 68 video games. He may want one other 12 months of AHL seasoning. Ellis’ prime 5 prospects embody Nikita Grebyonkin, a 2022 fifth-round choose who has quickly climbed the ranks, and Ben Danford, the group’s most up-to-date first-round choose and a reliable NHL prospect on defence.
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Regardless of the Maple Leafs’ decrease prospect rating, which Ellis attributes to the absence of a real top-end prospect, they’ve some depth. The lack of Matthew Knies to the NHL considerably affected their rankings. If Cowan continues his present trajectory, he’ll quickly observe in Knies’ footsteps, additional depleting the Maple Leafs’ prospect pool of its prime expertise. How good would that be for the group?
Merchandise Two: Nick Robertson’s Commerce Request Ought to Assist Easton Cowan’s Roster Probabilities
One huge query for the remainder of the offseason is, “Why are the Maple Leafs actively trying to find left-wingers once they have already got a number of promising choices on their AHL roster?” The reply could possibly be linked to Nick Robertson’s need to not return to the Maple Leafs’ roster after what he sees as ill-treatment over his time with the group. If he does transfer earlier than the beginning of the season, it opens up a greater likelihood for Cowan to make the roster.
As I famous in my put up on Wednesday, Robertson’s state of affairs is advanced. Whereas he has proven flashes of brilliance, his profession has been stricken by accidents, making it troublesome to safe a everlasting spot on the roster. He’s additionally been haunted by his waiver exemption, too simply moved up and all the way down to placate a secondary roster transfer. Ought to Robertson forgive the “sins” of the previous, he could be a robust candidate for the left-wing place. Nevertheless, if he’s traded, Cowan ought to discover himself with a extra easy path to the NHL.
Along with Robertson, the group has different winger choices vying for a spot on the roster. Alex Nylander and Alex Steeves are on the prime of the record. Each might make an impression. Moreover, given the potential of younger facilities equivalent to Pontus Holmberg and Minten, the Maple Leafs appear to have loads of inside choices that might match the potential of any late-summer free-agent signing.
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These inside choices make the Maple Leafs stable on the wing. Nonetheless, which may change if a extra established participant finds himself out of labor and decides the Maple Leafs could possibly be a one-season risk to enhance his scoring and discover a higher contract in 2025-26. As a result of they’re such an offensive group, the Maple Leafs may seem to be a worthwhile little “trip” for a participant seeking to kick-start a profession rebound.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
A lot of the Maple Leafs’ season is dependent upon one key unknown. How will Berube strategy the group’s roster constructing? Will he prioritize dimension and energy or favour velocity and talent? How will he stability the necessity for scoring with the group’s defensive tasks? These questions will solely be answered as soon as we see him behind the bench.
As hockey followers will keep in mind, the St. Louis Blues’ 2018-19 Stanley Cup season was marked by a shocking turnaround. They have been firmly within the NHL’s basement in early January. Below alternative head coach Berube, who emphasised accountability and a stable group construction, the Blues rallied behind rookie goalie Jordan Binnington. The group went on a franchise-record 11-game successful streak and a robust midseason surge. Then, the Blues defeated some robust opponents, together with the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks, to achieve the Stanley Cup Ultimate. They clinched their first championship by beating the Boston Bruins in an exciting seven-game sequence.
From Berube’s Stanley Cup run, we all know he isn’t afraid to belief his children. Will he see Cowan as a kind of children to journey, no matter his lack of NHL expertise? I’m guessing the reply is sure.
