Full overview of the Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect pool: Cowan, Minten, Danford

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Austin Kelly
July 19, 2024 (1:25 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have a big 2024 NHL Draft, but what they lacked in big names they made up for in big guys.

Every player taken by Toronto was 6'0 or taller, reflecting the size preference of GM Brad Treliving. With Director of Amateur Scouting Wes Clark departed for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Leafs start new.

As for their existing prospect pool, their talent group is headed by their forwards, most notable being Easton Cowan & Fraser Minten, but also have a lot of talent in the forward group beyond, and on defense.

Here is the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect pool breakdown for the 2024-25 NHL season.

North American Maple Leafs Prospects

Easton Cowan - C/LW

If anyone felt the Toronto Maple Leafs taking Easton Cowan 28th overall in 2024 was a question mark, most should feel their concerns are now answered. Admittedly a surprise at the time despite being a late riser, Cowan proved he's a legitimate top prospect with 34 goals, 62 assists & 96 points for the OHL Champion London Knights.

There's a real chance of Cowan potentially being able to crack the Leafs lineup for the 2024-25 season, but wouldn't hurt from another stint in the OHL, where he has a good chance of being the league's top scorer.

Fraser Minten - C

Minten seems like a dark horse to make the Leafs roster, already having defied expectations by making the team early in the season, playing four games for Toronto to start the year before a return to the WHL.

A trade from Kamloops to Saskatoon was beneficial for Minten, who had 38 points in 36 games for an offensively strong Blades squad who finished 1st in the Dub in PTS.

Ben Danford - RHD

The Toronto Maple Leafs took Ben Danford in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 31st overall. The Oshawa defenseman is a mature defensive defender who plays a well-rounded game but could unlock more in his offense. He's not a dominant player with the puck, which limits his upside, but if he finds the ability to control that side of the game more, he could be a top prospect for Toronto.

The Leafs needed to add in their defensive prospect pool, and get a player with good potential and a strong floor in Danford. He's not exciting, but he's intelligent and has a surprise amount of upside people seem to discount based on his controlled play style.

Noah Chadwick - LHD

Taken in the 6th round of the 2023 NHL Draft, expectations weren't the highest for Chadwick, with him looking like a raw prospect who needed some time to mature his game. Chadwick has managed to take a leap in a very short span of time, quickly becoming one of Toronto's top defensive prospects with 56 points in 66 games in the WHL for Lethbridge. He combines size with a skilled two-way game.

Braeden Kessler

A good OHL scorer with good playmaking. Kessler is on the smaller side but has done well producing regaddless. In all likeliness he's probably just a good AHL scorer in the pros, he lacks the physicality to make up for his size at 5'9.

Jacob Quillan - C

After a successful tenure in the NCAA with Quinnipac, Jacob Quillan signed as a college free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A skilled two-way forward, Quillan looks like a player who could be a potential bottom-six forward in the NHL.

Hudson Malinoski - C

Malinoski, a top player in 2022-23 in the AJHL, showed signs of translatability in his offense game going from Jr. A to the NCAA with Providence College. The Friars should be a higher scoring team with the incoming arrivals of 2024 draft picks Trevor Connelly & John Mustard.

Nick Moldenhauer - LW

The Michigan forward continues to be a key player for the Wolverines. Although on the smaller side, Moldenahuer is creative and energetic and does well as both a scorer and playmaker. Still needs to do more in the defensive end, and with his lack of size, he's still an uncertain thing until he makes the pros, but he's done well so far.

Cade Webber - LD

A fan favorite among some Leafs fans for his size at 6'6 and defensive power game, Webber isn't a very projectable NHLer, but with Brad Treliving's love for size on the blueline, there will be a lot of hope Webber can carve out some sort of role in the league, even if it's not a flashy one.

Matthew Lahey - LD

A purely defensive defenseman, Lahey is the prototypical Treliving guy at 6'5. 19 points in 54 games would be tough to justify as a pick even in the CHL, much less Jr. A hockey, but Lahey has the size and physicality the team hopes will be something that translates.

Sam McCue - LW

McCue has the potential to be a decent two-way forward in the OHL if he continues along his path, having an improved season from the year prior, not just on that stat sheet but in his overall game. Could be a bottom-six forward with the right development.

Nathan Mayes - LD

Toronto really made sure they had size in the defensive pool, taking another big, physical defenseman in Nathan Mayes. He's a bruiser of a player who's hard to play against for his physicality, but won't win in points. The final pick of the draft, don't force too many expectations on him.

Toronto Maple Leafs European Prospects

Nikita Grebenkin - RW

Grebenkin has consistently been one of the top players in Russia, and next season will get to prove himself in North America.

A top contributor for KHL champions Metallurg, Grebenkin finished tied for second in points with 41. Already a key player in Russia, Grebenkin may start in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies, but should be a Leaf sooner rather than later if his talent translates.

Victor Johansson - LHD

A bit of a surprise to some in the Scouting world that Johansson went that high. He wasn't rated highly by many public scouts, but clearly the Leafs see something in the seldom scouted Johansson. A smaller, mobile defenseman who lacks strength but has good puck movement, the hope is Johansson, a very raw prospect, has a lot more room to grow, especially in toughness.

Miroslav Holinka - C

A fifth-round pick of the Leafs in the 2024 NHL Draft, Holinka may have the most upside out of everyone in Toronto's Draft class. Both a defensively responsible Center with good creativity and deceptiveness. Likely a bottom-six forward, but could rise in the rankings if he continues on his current path. Expected to join the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings next season.

Alexander Plesovskikh - LW

Plesovskikh is a physical winger who makes up for a lack of offensive skill for strength and defense IQ. Players like that don't always get drafted so a bit of a surprise he went as high as he did. An August birthday so some hope he's a little behind in his development path vs most. He's incredibly raw, and far from an NHL prospect at this stage, but he has some tools to potentially be an NHLer.

Toronto Maple Leafs AHL Prospects

Roni Hirvonen - C

The Finnish Center hasn't made the easiest jump to North America. The 22-year-old didn't show the best of what he could do at times. He's a smaller forward so there were going to be obvious limitations, but Hirvonen needs to get stronger.

Nick Abruzzese - LW

Time is starting to run out for Abruzzese. The 25-year-old still hasn't solidified a spot on the Leafs roster, and it seems he may just be a good AHLer at this stage if nothing changes. At best he's a depth option in Toronto but he doesn't seem to have the physical intensity to consistently play in the bottom-six, and hasn't scored in a way that would make up for it.

Alex Steeves - C/LW

A few players in the Toronto Marlies seem like borderline NHLers stuck in a deep offensive group in the main club, but Alex Steeves seems like the most likely to find a way to carve a role in the NHL.

Unlike some others in the Marlies, Steeves is a decent defensive player with good skill in his own end. His upside is most likely in the bottom-six, but Steeves is a smart and strong player who could find a way to break into a lineup.

Ryan Tverberg - C

A surprise grower in the past few years, Tverberg has gone from a 7th round pick to a key player for the NCAA Connecticut Huskies to quickly being one of the top youngsters on the Marlies.

Tverberg had 9 goals and 32 points in 46 games for the Marlies. He's really found some good growth in his creativity and puck ability as a Marlie, and although he's still a longshot player, he's a potential NHL steal if he keeps at his current pace.

Ty Voit - C/LW

A top OHLer the year prior, finishing 2nd in points with 105 and a league-leading 81 assists, Voit couldn't get the same results this year in the pros due to bad luck. After getting injured in training camp, Voit had a season-ending injury just minutes into his AHL debut after just 5 ECHL games with 8 points. There will be hope for a rebound.

Topi Niemela - RHD

Niemela has done well adapting to the North American style of play after a slow start in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies. Niemela has shown throughout the season the ability to play in smaller ice, looking like a capable defenseman at both ends of play.

Niemela probably doesn't make the Leafs next season with their depth, but has a good shot at a full-time shot by 2025-26. He could potentially play this season, but likely in a third-line role, but in the past Toronto has not liked to keep youngsters in minimal minutes, letting them play more in the AHL rather than bury them in the bigs. Niemela is perhaps the most likely and ready NHL defenseman in the Leafs prospects pool.

William Villeneuve - RHD

Villeneuve really broke out late in the year for Toronto. He looked a lot stronger and more capable against pro players. Although he doesn't play big minutes for the Marlies, he has the potential to be a key contributor for the team, and perhaps for the Leafs as well.

Marshall Rifai - RHD

Rifai's upside is a third line defenseman. The 26-year-old got a "cup of coffee" with The Leafs this past season, but hasn't shown he's more than just a call-up option. Bobby McMann emerged as a late bloomer, and maybe Rifai could be that, but not close to the same level.

Mikko Kokkonen - LHD

Likely a bottom-pairing defenseman in the NHL, Kokkonen has the potential to be a good player, but needs to still put everything together. He can go quiet at times and need to show he can be a more dominant player. Still some potential and put up a strong, yet longshot fight to make the main team in the preseason.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie review can be found below:

HockeyPatrol - Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Year-In-Review: Comprehensive Goalie Analysis