Hey folks, Alec’s traditionally done this in the past, but I’ll be taking over for this one as he’s been bogged down with work lately. With the way the Leafs have played over the past few years, we find ourselves looking forward to the future, hoping that there’s help on the horizon. Well let’s take a gander at what the Toronto Maple Leafs are cultivating down on the farm:
Let’s start in the QMJHL with arguably Toronto’s top junior prospect in Chris Didomenico of the Saint John Sea Dogs, whom I wrote about in detail here. Chris is described as a hard working, two-way player who brings offensive ability and plenty of tenacity to the table. Heck sometimes too much tenacity as evidenced by him pissing off an American player and receiving a stick in the face the other night. The young centerman was a surprise invite to Hockey Canada’s summer training camp for the world juniors and shocked even more people when he was announced to this year’s squad. Look at him now, skating alongisde John Tavares, scoring at a point-a-game rate, and playing a big-time role. I recently had the opportuntity to chat with North American Central Scouting chief scout Mark Seidel and here’s what he said about Chris: “He still has a ways to go to end up in the NHL but this kid has fought every step of the way so I don’t expect him to stop now”. Didomenico has indeed made the effort to improve his game each and every year, and with his improved skating and defensive play, there’s a legitimate chance he could be on Toronto’s top six one day.
‘07/’08 Stats: 39 goals, 56 assists for 95 points in 70 GP
Current Stats: 11 goals, 23 assists for 34 points in 26 GP
Projected Stats: 30 goals, 62 assists for 92 points in 70 GP (Though he won’t reach 70 GP due to WJC)
Toronto’s 2008 4th round pick Mikhail Stefanovich is also coming quite nicely for the 29-8 Quebec Ramparts. Stefanovich was widely regarded as a huge steal by the Leafs as a player with 1st round talent who fell to the 4th round because of work ethic concerns. When he’s on, Mikhail is a monster. Standing at 6′2, 202 with good acceleration, soft hands and a sniper’s shot, he really brings the entire offensive package. This season, his head coach (none other than the legendary Patrick Roy) has encouraged Mikhail to work on improving the other facets of his game, and he’s responded well. Maybe Stefanovich has managed to sipon off some of the inner passion that burns inside Roy but whatever it is, it’s working. Mikihail erupted for a huge 4 goal performance a few nights ago. Not only is he getting PK time, but he’s proving to be one of the QMJHL’s most dynamic and dangerous offensive players this season.
‘07/’08 Stats: 32 goals, 34 assists for 66 points in 62 GP
Current Stats: 18 goals, 15 assists for 33 points in 27 GP
Projected Stats: 41 goals, 34 assists for 75 points in 62 GP
Man is Dale Mitchell ever lucky. Over the summer he gets traded from the offensive powerhouse that is the Tavares-led Oshawa Generals to the up-and-coming Windsor Spitfires that includes the likes of 2010 potential #1 pick Taylor Hall, Canada’s PP quarterback Ryan Ellis, and power forward Greg Nemisz. In fact, that Spitfires currently sport a ridiculous 31-5-0-1 record and average an insane 4.35 goals/game. But Dale’s not sitting idly; he’s trying to pull his own weight too. Coming off a disappointing 07/08 campaign where he scored just 24 goals, Mitchell was showing signs of a big bounceback year by scoring 10 goals in 15 playoff games last year. This season, it looks like he’s regained some of that scoring touch. It’s going to be hard for the diminutive winger to earn a top six role at the NHL level, but he’s certainly got the grit, strength, and passion to successfully maintain employment as an energy player. You can read up more on Dale here.
‘07/’08 Stats: 24 goals, 36 assists for 60 points in 63 GP
Current Stats: 18 goals, 20 assists for 38 points in 35GP
Projected Stats: 32 goals, 36 assists for 68 points in 63 GP
From the Leafs’ smallest to largest CHL prospect we go. Standing at 6′4 220 lbs, Joel Champagne’s got the size and physicality package that scouts love. He’s an accomplished defensive shutdown type player with a fantastic 62% faceoff winning percentage. The goal for Joel coming into his 3rd season in the QMJHL, was to begin to develop more of an offensive game by taking advantage of his frame to play around the net. He was recently traded by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens to the PEI Rocket and has responded by upping his play to another level. Since the trade, he’s recorded 6 points in 3 games played. He’s on pace to beat his previous career bests by a wide margin. Champagne is doing his best to pencil himself into the 3rd or 4th line shutdown center role for the Leafs down the road.
‘07/’08 Stats: 18 goals, 22 assists for 40 points in 70 GP
Current Stats: 12 goals, 15 assists for 27 points in 31 GP
Projected Stats: 27 goals, 34 assists for 61 points in 70 GP
Over in the NCAA, there are a couple interesting names to look out for. Generally, I like to think of the point-a-game barrier if you want to see if someone’s got legitimate NHL potential. 6′2 212 lb winger Alex Berry has already matched his career best point total of 17 (done last season in 34 GP), but did it this year after 15 games. Viktor Stalberg out of the University of Vermont is also off to a career best start with 16 points in 16 GP, and is on pace to shatter his previous highs. Tyler Ruegsegger has been off to a disappointing start for the 2nd year in a row with just 12 points in 20 GP as he tries to get back to the level he was playing at during his freshman year. Goaltender Grant Rollheiser is off to a respectable start in his freshman year, going 4-3 with a 2.45 GAA and .884 SV%. Before being called away to play for Team USA at the world juniors, power forward prospect Jimmy Hayes record 8 points in 15 GP, but impressed coaches with his character and work ethic. Matt Frattin out of the University of North Dakota, has 13 points in 20 GP and is among the many forwards on pace to demolish their previous career highs. Winger Ben Winnett is playing a defensive energy role for the University of Michigan and has notched 6 points in 19 GP. Perhaps the most notable Leafs prospect from the college ranks is senior forward Chad Rau, who up until a few days ago was tied for the scoring lead in the nation with 27 points in 22 GP. Described as a dynamic goal scorer with gamebreaking ability, Rau was the consensus choice as voted by NCAA coaches, to be the most likely candidate to bring home the Hobey Baker trophy as the top player in the nation this season. I’ll be doing a more in depth piece on Chad Rau later on in the coming weeks.
Over in Europe, SEL defenseman Carl Gunnarsson is showing flashes of some offensive potential with 11 points through 34 GP and beating his previous high of 9 points 53 GP. 6′3 German defenseman Korbinian Holzer has 6 points in 25 DEL GP. 6′4 Slovak defenseman Juraj Mikus has 8 points in 35 GP after going scoreless all of last season. The top Leafs Euro prospect is Jerome Flaake, who has been very impressive at the world juniors displaying his physical game, speed, and offensive touch with 4 points in 5 GP. Playing in a men’s league in the DEL, he’s improved on his 1 point total from last season with 6 points through 28 GP. Look for him to make the move over to the CHL sometime next season to get more playing time.
As a whole, the Leafs farm system seems to be progressing nicely with most of their players moving forward statistically. They’ve got a few young forwards with impact potential in the NHL in Didomenico, Rau, Hayes and Stefanovich. However, the depth on the blueline and in goal is a legitimate concern. In addition, you’ve got to hand it to the Leafs scouting staff for uncovering many late round gems that have blossomed into legitimate NHL prospects, but the fact of the matter is Toronto lacks blue-chippers due to the loss of many high round picks over the years. Last year’s draft haul has yielded some great dividends for the Leafs with Hayes, Stefanovich and of course Schenn. Another such bounty in the phenomenal draft class that is 2009, including a possible lottery pick, would provide a huge boost to the organization’s stable of young players. The future is not quite now for Leaf fans, but if early signs are any indication, there are good times ahead.
Always a pleasure,
Alex Tran
alx_22@hotmail.com
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January 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
couple of great posts on the future of the leafs, be it those already drafted or the options we have at the next draft. keep up the fantastic work at this site guys, it’s awesome
I had no idea our NCAA prospects were doing so well, a friend from Colorado college tells me that Leaf fans don’t yet know how talented this rau kid is. exciting.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this Rau’s fourth and final year in the NCAA? He’ll be challenging for a Leafs roster spot come next season. I’m pulling for Stefanovich to become the next Milan Michalek, and Champagne sounds like a real Burke-style player – supposedly he patterns his game after Getzlaf.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I can’t even remember hearing about Rau. Sounds like a good prospect!
Let’s hope in a couple years we have a plethora of young guns.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Betterforsome, I like that Michalek comparison.
Milan might be more of a playmaker though. Stefanovich is a cold-blooded sniper, maybe similar to a Nikolai Zherdev.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Oh and yes Rau is a senior in his final year in the NCAA.
He’ll be turning just 22 later this month, so he might be spending a bit of time on the Marlies but he’ll definitely be challenging for a spot next season.
How much consideration he’s given could be based on whether or not he can make an impact on the Marlies playoff run this year once his NCAA season is over.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
From a life long leafs fan living now on the west coast. Alec and Alex you guys are the true analysts of prospects in Leaf nation. The rest are just speculators and rumor mungers. Happy 2009 and keep up the good work.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I concur
Good work guys.
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Thanks for the kind words Heidman. Appreciate it.
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Great post Alex. Thanks for this. Look forward to the piece on Rau, imagine if a 7th round pick can become a top six player for us. Him, Williams, Stajan, Mitchell, Moore will provide a good supporting cast for years to come hopefully.
January 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Moore will not be part of a supporting cast for years…
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
moore is 28 H_G. I think he’ll be a good vet presence on the leafs’ 3rd/4th line for many years to come..
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I think what I like best about the potential future is a team that could possibly roll 4 lines that have skill, speed and passion for the game. We’ve been hand-cuffed this season by having one or 2 lines take shifts off…forcing Wilson to have to play some guys a little more than he should (Blake & Moore…decent pairing, but shouldn’t be leading the forwards in ice time in any game).
I also like the nice mix of size and skill. I thought Dale Mitchell and Didomenico had a great camp for us this year. We’ll see what happens, but they should be pushing for roles soon and maybe even next year!!
I love these posts, please keep them coming!!
January 4th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Stefanovich and Champagne have both been on fire of late.
Mikhail with another 2 goals tonight and Joel with a 3 assist game.
January 4th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I plan on doing some in depth perspectives on a few of these guys myself, but I have to play down some of the expectations I’m seeing on here.
DiDomenico continues to impress overall with his play at the World Juniors, and his 2 goals and 4 assists are a nice total to contribute, but he hasn’t done much in the past game or so to wow me. I think he’s at least 2 years away from much of a contribution at the NHL level.
Stefanovich and Hayes are both high risk high reward picks. Stefanovich has more potential, but he needs to improve his consistency. He played recently at the second tier world U-20’s for Belarus also, and didn’t do much to shock the world on that stage. His 4 goals and 2 assists resulting in 6 points and a +5 rating had him working as probably the 5th or 6th most important contributor on the Belarussian team. He’s still a work in progress.
Hayes hasn’t done a whole lot yet to warrant too much optimism, but if he improves consistently over the next 2 years, he’ll be worth the selection eventually.
Champagne still has to work on his footspeed if he ever has visions of making the NHL. His size is an asset, but his offensive game could use some polish.
Flaake was selected in the CHL import draft prior to this past season, and the Leafs decided to leave him in Germany. He’s playing against men, and he’s seeing first line minutes at regular strength and on the PP. He’s playing alongside ex-Leafs Todd Warriner and Mike Johnson, so I don’t think the Leafs are too worried about his development in the DEL. The Junior leagues might help them keep him close to home, but I’m not sure that’s what Flaake wants to do… he’s a few years away at best either way.
Rau can score, but his foot speed is questionable, and he’ll likely spend some time in the AHL before he gets a chance to crack an NHL lineup… even with the thin up front Leafs.
I’m looking forward to how everything pans out, but the Leafs still need an upgrade in their skill level on the back end and in net as far as prospects go.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Wow. Had no idea the Leafs were this stacked in the prospects dept. Looking forward to these guys challenging for a playoff spot.
December 27th, 2009 at 4:43 am
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