The Toronto Maple Leafs have had quite a lot of gamers signify their respective nations up to now on the World Junior Hockey Championship. John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander, Jake McCabe and extra have competed in that match for World Junior supremacy.
Final 12 months, solely Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten represented the Maple Leafs on the 2024 match. With illustration, being low up to now, the variety of gamers presumably enjoying this 12 months will likely be low as soon as once more. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless impactful gamers that may make their mark on their respective groups. One among which, would undoubtedly like to get retribution after a quater-final exit final 12 months.
Listed below are three prospect hopefuls that need to crack the roster and signify the Maple Leafs on the World Junior Championship.
Easton Cowan – Canada
Cowan’s spot on the roster is just about a lock, as he’s considered one of many returning gamers from final 12 months’s workforce. It’s additionally protected to say, that Cowan would wish to have one other crack at a gold medal after an early quarter-final exit, dropping within the dying seconds of the third interval.
Associated: Information to the 2025 World Junior Championship
Drafted 28th total by the Maple Leafs in 2023, Cowan has continued the place he left off final season along with his scoring dominance by extending his common season level streak to 54 video games. Throughout that span he has tallied 91 factors which is a powerful feat. Cowan has 25 factors in 18 video games this season and with the World Junior Championship on the horizon, it’s probably he’s going to be relied on in an even bigger position with the crimson and white in comparison with final 12 months.
The Hockey Writers is already projecting Cowan to probably be in a top-six position. He’s a participant that may be a consider any state of affairs. He can dominate at five-on-five, the person benefit or on the penalty kill. That alone makes him an all-situations sort participant for this workforce in an elevated position this time round. Cowan’s work ethic, motor and drive immediately takes over a recreation which may flip the momentum. He’s at all times pressuring gamers to pressure a mistake after which he pounces on these alternatives and makes the opposition pay. That’s the sort of participant Canada wants and he matches that description.
Given Cowan’s expertise from final 12 months and the way he would love some revenge after a disappointing end, he’s going to be placing his greatest foot ahead. With a possible stacked ahead unit, Cowan goes to be a key participant for Canada.
Noah Chadwick – Canada
With Cowan being a lock for the workforce, the Maple Leafs’ sixth-round decide in 2023, Noah Chadwick, could be in robust as he hopes to carve a job on Canada’s blue line. The excellent news is, he was already on Hockey Canada’s radar as he was chosen to their Summer season Showcase roster.
With that, there should’ve been one thing they preferred so as to invite Chadwick and his play as of late proved that. The Lethbridge Hurricanes captain took a large step along with his improvement final season as he had 12 objectives and 56 factors. This season, he has 20 factors in 22 video games and is on tempo to surpass his level totals from the earlier season. His regular two-way recreation is one thing that may profit any workforce. He can confidently lead an assault and discover the open areas simply. On the defensive aspect, he can shut gaps shortly, show an lively keep on with well timed breakups and does an amazing job to maintain opponents to the skin.
Relying on how Canada desires their protection to be shaped, Chadwick may probably be a giant issue. There have been cases the place offensive-minded defensemen had been over regarded for gamers that may present a extra full model and be position gamers. Nicely, Chadwick can just do that as he can simply type a shut-down defensive pair or praise an offensive participant.
Might Chadwick be that left-shot defender as a third-pair and stability the play of a Carter Yakemchuk? It’s undoubtedly potential, however he must have a standout camp as rosters spots on the blue line are restricted. He’s ready for the chance and his confidence reveals it.
Miroslav Holinka – Czechia
After standing out on the U20 stage in Czechia the place he had 41 factors in 29 video games with HC Oceláři Třinec final season, Miroslav Holinka made his solution to North America to proceed his improvement with the Edmonton Oil Kings within the Western Hockey League. Thus far, he’s adjusting effectively as he has 21 factors in 23 video games, good for fifth in workforce scoring.
Holinka’s recreation revolves round his shot and his intelligence on each side of the puck. That was what immediately drew him to the Maple Leafs. He has a knack for locating the open areas very effectively and can at all times make the most of these taking pictures alternatives. Even with out the puck, he has good reads and tendencies so as to achieve success on the backcheck. He has nice palms to manoeuvre it tight areas and does an amazing job to fend off attacking gamers.
With a few of Czechia’s forwards like Jiri Kulich and Matyas Sapovaliv graduating from this stage, they nonetheless have a bunch of veteran gamers– like Eduard Sale– however may get some assist from a brand new group of forwards as effectively. Adam Benak is a prime prospect to control and Holinka may undoubtedly be on Czechia’s radar as a depth participant. He’s acquired the dimensions and palms to get by and evade defenders and his launch was undoubtedly one thing that acquired numerous consideration.
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Whereas Holinka may very well be a bubble participant, if Czechia is searching for extra offense and a well-rounded model of play, he may very well be a great addition.
The Maple Leafs might not have a big amount of gamers heading to the annual junior hockey match, however they do have high quality gamers that would make a big effect for the respective groups. Both approach, it’s an amazing alternative to point out their value and probably have robust outcomes.
