Miroslav Holinka hit 80 points after the Maple Leafs sent skills coaches to Edmonton every month
Photo credit: STEVEN ELLIS/THE NATION NETWORK
Miroslav Holinka is the future. With 80 points in the WHL, a training regiment built for him by the Maple Leafs and some serious potential ahead of him — he's gone from fifth-round question mark to possible top-six superstar.
Typically, the Toronto Maple Leafs don't find themselves with a chance to take a relatively no-named player and bring him out of obscurity. Bobby McMann is a perfect example, but there's someone else who has sprung up out of the woodwork after a stellar season.
Miroslav Holinka put together 80 points in 59 games (37 goals, 43 assists) while adding a plus-28 with the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL). That alone is impressive considering he struggled last season, but it's something that Toronto did for him that's truly a turning point.
Miroslav Holinka exploded for 80 points after overcoming a tough language and mental roadblock
The Maple Leafs sent Holinka a personal cadre of trainers, coaches and dieticians to make sure that the prospect had the best possible access to resources. It's something he noted that made a massive improvement this year:
This was my second year with the group, and I feel more comfortable.
Every month, a couple of guys would come here and help with my skating, with working out, with my diet. It was great.
Every month, a couple of guys would come here and help with my skating, with working out, with my diet. It was great.
That extra attention seems like a new facet to the Maple Leafs scouting game plan as it's rare that one player gets so much attention unless they were penciled in as a future star.
Whatever Toronto helped Holinka with also seemed to curb his homesickness as he navigated last year through a serious language barrier. Going from speaking almost no English after spending his life in Czechia he's made a stark turnaround this season.
Jason Smith says Holinka has everything to make the NHL and the Maple Leafs know it
Oil Kings head coach and former Maple Leaf Jason Smith also believes Holinka has the tools to make it in the NHL and coupled with the fact he wants to emulate John Tavares in his style — he could have a long career:
His defensive play has been really good. We use him on the penalty kill. He’s bringing everything he can. He’s got the ability to play, the drive to continue to get better. Will it be in one year, two years? I don’t know. If he continues to work on his game, grow his game, he’s got a great chance to be a player [in the NHL].
Toronto has decided that Holinka is not only someone who they need to pay closer attention to, but obviously want him to thrive as best as he can. He already signed his ELC, and he's just biding his time before coming over.
He's someone who could be a Swiss Army knife of sorts. He can play centre and wing, be a defensive-first forward or an offensive maestro. Wherever he's asked to help he's succeeded and his versatility should make Toronto fans salivate.
No doubt the next step for Holinka is going to the Toronto Marlies, but given his immense growth and the care he's being given — it really won't be long until he wears the Maple Leafs crest.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 30|811 ANSWERS Miroslav Holinka hit 80 points after the Maple Leafs sent skills coaches to Edmonton every month Should the Maple Leafs call-up Miroslav Holinka to the Toronto Marlies? | ||
| Yes | 694 | 85.6 % |
| No | 117 | 14.4 % |
| List of polls | ||