Ranking Prospects

[Michael]

This got me thinking. I wonder what it would look like if we kept a list of the top 10 or top 20 prospects year over year for the next few years. It's no stretch to think that the quality in the next 2 - 3 years is going to go up a lot.

Well even just from my completely unofficial rankings 6 of the top-10 are players that we've added since February. That's a pretty big injection of talent.

It borders on a full on transfusion. Other than Nylander and Brown, nearly everyone else brought in has bumped the old pool down a few tiers.

And I think that watching this will be more exciting than watching the big team on the ice for the next couple of years. I might prefer a Marlies game this year over a Leafs game and I suspect I am not alone on that.

[hockeyfan1]

A summarized look at the Leafs' top prospects:

1. Mitchell Marner, C

How acquired:First round (No. 4), 2015 NHL Draft

Last season: London, OHL: 63 GP, 44-82-126

The Maple Leafs believe they have a player similar to the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane in Marner, right down to the fact Kane also played junior with the London Knights. Like Kane, Marner is a highly skilled player who's gifted with the puck.

Toronto signed the 18-year-old to a three-year contract July 28. In two seasons with the Knights, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound center had 57 goals and 185 points in 127 games. Marner is considered a solid two-way player who does not shirk his defensive responsibilities and is aggressive with his stick.

Projected NHL arrival: 2017-18



2. Kasperi Kapanen, RW

How acquired: Trade with Pittsburgh Penguins, July 1, 2015

Last season: KalPa Kuopio, Liiga (Finland): 41 GP, 11-10-21; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL: 4 GP, 1-1-2

The son of retired NHL forward Sami Kapanen is another of the Maple Leafs' small, skilled players; he's 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds. After playing most of last season in his native Finland, he joined the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate to get a taste of North American hockey. Kapanen scored a goal and had an assist in four regular-season games, then had two goals and five points in five playoff games.

Goal-scoring is Kapanen's strong suit, but the 19-year-old is also a gifted playmaker who makes those around him better. He is a high-end skater with a quick release.

Projected NHL arrival: 2016-17



3. William Nylander, C

How acquired:First round (No.8 ),  2014 NHL Draft

Last season:Modo, Sweden: 21 GP, 8-12-20; Toronto Marlies, AHL: 37 GP, 18-14-32

The 19-year-old Canadian-born son of former NHL forward Michael Nylander is a speedy center with excellent offensive skills. Like Kapanen, Nylander started last season playing in Europe but came to North America to play in the AHL.

Nylander (5-foot-11, 174 pounds) has above-average speed, good hands and likes to shoot the puck. He performed well for Sweden at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring three goals and 10 points in seven games. The Maple Leafs hope he will become more engaged physically as he fills out and matures.

Projected NHL arrival: 2016-17



4. Stuart Percy, D

How acquired: First round (No. 25), 2011 NHL Draft

Last season:Maple Leafs: 9 GP, 0-3-3; Toronto Marlies, AHL; 43 GP, 1-10-11

Percy's greatest strength might be going unnoticed; for the type of game he plays, which is being smart with the puck, that's a good thing. The 22-year-old is a smooth-skating defender who makes few mistakes. He isn't overly physical but doesn't shy away from contact.

The 6-foot-1, 186-pound native of Oakville, Ontario, did not look out of place during a short stint with the Maple Leafs last season. He stays calm under pressure and is dependable at getting the puck out of the defensive zone.

Projected NHL arrival:2015-16



5. Frederik Gauthier, C[/close]


How acquired:[/color ] First round (No. 21), 2013 NHL Draft

Last season: Rimouski, QMJHL; 37 GP, 16-16-32

stands out from Toronto's other top prospects because of his size; he's 6-foot-5, 215 pounds. The 20-year-old center is not considered to have top-six potential, but his defensive skills and ability in the faceoff circle suggest he'll be a dependable third-liner.

Gauthier represented Canada in the past two WJC tournaments. His game has been described as mature, and his offense has potential. Gauthier skates well and uses his size to win puck battles.

Projected NHL arrival: 2016-17



http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=776196&navid=DL|NHL|home

[CarltonTheBear]

Kapanen over Nylander? Well, that's one way for a list to lose all of it's credibility I guess.

[pmrules]

Kapanen over Nylander? Well, that's one way for a list to lose all of it's credibility I guess.

Well, there's that plus I don't believe any of the heights and weights  - I think Nylander recently said he was heavier than that, and I think Kapanen is taller than what is reported.

I know its opinion, but I don't believe some of the starting NHL dates.

Marner - 2 more years in Junior?   Between 0, 1 and 2 more years in Junior, I put 2 years in Junior as the least likely.
Gauthier - 1 year in the AHL?  Its possible, but he likely needs 2 years.

Brings up an interesting dillemma - It's possible that Marner/Nylander (Kapanen maybe?) are all ready to start 2016/2017 with the Leafs.  Good problem or Bad to possibly have them ready all at once?

[pmrules]

Saw this posted elsewhere re: our 3rd round pick from this year's draft:

Jérôme Bérubé @Jerome_Berube
Dzierkals (leafs prospect) won't report to R-Noranda camp. agent wants more $. Karlis Cuktse won't report either, will go to Waterloo USHL.

Background - Dzierkals was drafted by Rouyn-Noranda from the Q in the CHL import draft a few weeks back.  He has a few other options (including the AHL if he signs a contract), and is obviously not required to commit to his CHL team if he feels he is better served elsewhere. 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Kapanen over Nylander? Well, that's one way for a list to lose all of it's credibility I guess.

I was just coming here to say this, he's arguably the best prospect.

[moon111]

I wouldn't bring up young players if they were better then what we have now on one-year contracts.

[herman]

Corey Pronman's team rankings by prospect strength:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/13413499/nhl-ranking-every-nhl-team-prospect-strength

If you don't have a subscription: some kind soul on reddit has posted the text.

Spoiler Alert: Edmonton is first.

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

"The Leafs' system has skyrocketed the past 12 months, following a great 2015 draft, key trades and progression from some prospects. Mitch Marner and William Nylander are true top-flight names, and they have a lot of depth in quality prospects, many of whom are in my top 100 overall NHL prospects column."

[Lynx]

When have the Leafs ever been ranked in the top 10 for prospects, never mind number 2? And the article says they're only number two because of McDavid. This is uncharted territory for the team.

[herman]

When have the Leafs ever been ranked in the top 10 for prospects, never mind number 2? And the article says they're only number two because of McDavid. This is uncharted territory for the team.

It's just one man's systematic ranking...

but I can't help but feel...

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I value Pronman's opinion a lot more, but I'd be interested to find out how Hockey's Future ranks the Leafs system overall now.

[herman]

PPP's Top 25 under 25 is under way.

25. Christopher Gibson
24. Matt Finn
23. Scott Harrington
22. Travis Dermott
21. Dmytro Timashov
20. Carter Verhaeghe
19. Frederik Gauthier
18. Nikita Soshnikov
17. Taylor Beck
16. Viktor Lööv
15. Josh Leivo
14. Jeremy Bracco
13. Stuart Percy
12. Brendan Leipsic
11. Andreas Johnson
10. Martin Marincin
9. Richard Panik
8. Connor Brown
7. Peter Holland
6. Kasperi Kapanen
5. Mitch Marner
4. Nazem Kadri
3. Jake Gardiner
2. William Nylander
1. Morgan Rielly

[herman]

Corey Pronman on TSN 1050 talking about his rankings and why the Leafs are his #2.
http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015/08/12/corey-pronman-discusses-ranking-maple-leafs-second-in-prospect-strength/

Andy McNamara: Last year, the Leafs were ranked 17th. This year, you have them all the way up to #2. Why?

Pronman: A lot has changed in the course of a year. The organization has made a clear direction change in terms of how they think they’re going to win, which is over the long term. They’ve also changed the emphasis on the kind of players they want to acquire. I think you look at how their 2015 draft went; they bulked assets in terms of trading down, and then took really upside/ceiling-type of players. You’re thinking of Travis Dermott, or guys like Jeremy Bracco, and some other guys in the later rounds. And then they obviously were big on getting prospects via trade. I really like Brendan Leipsic, the guy they got in the Cody Franson deal. We can talk for a long time about the Phil Kessel trade and whether or not it was equitable, but Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington are very good prospects. Obviously they got Mitch Marner fourth overall; William Nylander, Connor Brown had very good seasons. You put all this together and the farm system looks dramatically different from 12 months ago.

[CarltonTheBear]

More from Pronman, he released his annual top-100 drafted prospects list this morning, here's how the Leafs prospects fared:

4) Marner
6) Nylander
29) Kapanen
39) Bracco
72) Brown
77) Johnson
84) Harrington
97) Leipsic

I'm sure someone else online will do the math, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the Leafs have the most amount of prospects in this list.