Maple Leafs' Prospect Pool Is Loaded With Size but Lacking in One Key Area
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have established a clear draft philosophy, but it may cost them value as potential trade assets
When Brad Treliving became GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was well known he did have somewhat of a type when it came to the players he trusted, with that being big forwards who can play aggressive.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafting this past year has reflected that Treliving's vision for the team is in sync with the prospect pool.
The Leafs only drafted players 6'1 or taller, a statement that size mattered strongly, and that it was key to the type of team Toronto is building.
Now, Toronto's prospect pool has the size Brad Treliving wants, but their emphasis on reliable shutdown players has come at the cost of upside swings.
Lack of Top-End Skill Still Limits Toronto's Prospect Depth
For all that the Leafs have done in being more physical and having more size, they are lacking in terms of upside in their prospect pool, and while getting more physical is important, it's come at the risk not investing in skill.
It's evident the Leafs have corrected from what was an emphasis on skill in the Kyle Dubas era, in which talent trumped size, to some mixed results.
Brad Treliving has been no stranger to mimicking the prospect pool to his style. If he has to give up a bit in terms of offensive upside, he's willing to do so. Even in Calgary size mattered to Treliving.
At a time, the Flames under Treliving did draft some smaller players, but didn't have the best hit rates, although one player who looked to be a promising in Adam Fox, ultimately decided after college not to sign with Calgary.
Treliving wants not only big, physical players, but ones who want to be members of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Perhaps the Adam Fox situation impacted Treliving more than what is known, because it was shortly after his philosophy shifted much harsher and the exceptions to his rules became less, and more of a focus came with commitment to the franchise.
Commitment is something that has come up time and time again with Treliving. He cited commitment as a factor to quickly getting deals for John Tavares and Matthew Knies. He let Mitch Marner walk after questions surrounded his commitment, and traded Ryan Reaves after admitting to wanting a bigger chance.
It's not surprising then that four of the six players drafted in this past draft by Toronto were OHLers, because who more would be likely to want to be a Toronto Maple Leaf than an Ontario born?
Five of the six picked by Toronto grew up as fans of the Leafs, even the Norwegian Tinus Luc Koblar who was viewed as a surprise at 64th.
Leafs' Prospect Pool Shows Rare Size and Physicality Combo
There's an immense amount of size in the Leafs prospect pool, and it's only growing with their most recent draft.
Toronto isn't just adding big players, they're moving off smaller players who were brought in from the former regime in charge.
Topi Niemela had signed in the SHL, although still in the Leafs system moving on from North America for the time, never given a real chance at an NHL shot.
Toronto also let the signing deadline pass on two undersized prospects in Wyatt Schingoethe and John Fusco.
There's exceptions to Treliving's size focus, and that's player who are willing to play harder than their size.
In Calgary, Johnny Gaudreau was able to win over any doubts with his ability to be physical and work hard to win. In Toronto, Treliving has seen players like Max Domi be aggressive, their size no detriment to getting under opponents skin.
Easton Cowan was in ways a Treliving pick in name only, with the scouts having done most of the work before his hiring, but Cowan fits the mold of such player who can work hard and be engaging, and a Leafs fan. He'll have to prove that in the pros still to get his shot.
Treliving's unofficial pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft was Calgary taking Samuel Honzek.
The versatile 6'4 Slovakian forward was drafted by Treliving's replacement, Craig Conroy, but the Flames draft had Treliving's influence seemingly on it, all picks made being players 6'0 and above, and half of them of them being 6'3 or taller, including Honzek.
In Toronto, there's little in the Leafs prospect pool in terms of being undersized, but at the same time there's also little in terms of upside.
Why It Matters: Leafs' Trade Flexibility Hinges on Prospect Depth
Trading prospects should never want to be the focus because team's would rather they work out and be contributors rather than trade chips, but not everyone is going to make it.
For a contending team like Toronto, their insistence on raw players who will take time makes their ability to use prospects in a deal difficult.
Once Cowan graduates, Toronto won't have a player who looks like an instant impact NHLer. Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov, while promising, will naturally take longer to reach their peak as goalies often do, and AHLers such as Jacob Quillan may become solid depth pieces, but nothing dominant.
A player like Tinus Luc Koblar will likely be years from hitting his stride, and players who may be a bit closer like Tyler Hopkins and Miroslav Holinka project more in a bottom-six role. Useful, but not the most exciting pieces to GM's.
Toronto also does not currently have a first round pick until 2028, meaning if they want to get better in this upcoming season, a team would either have to be desperate, or Toronto would have to hope their prospect situation looks more optimistic right away.
The Leafs have not drafted many players the past two years that have a clear NHL pathway. Hopkins very well projects to be a potential 3C at best, or a capable defensive 4C, but they've taken players who'll need time to see the projectability come to fruition.
Naturally, bigger players have the advantage of being able to play more physical and are more likely to work in depth roles.
But too, a small player doesn't need to be a star in order to work their way into an NHL lineup. At 5'8, former Leaf Colin Blackwell has been one of the best defensive bottom-six forwards in the NHL, and has never cracked more than 22 points.
But more than anything, projectability is the big step needed for any team to succeed. Whether big or small, you need players who have the talent to succeed. If they haven't shown their skill level yet, you need to believe it'll eventually come.
Treliving and the Leafs scouting team have been playing it safe with the draft and not giving in to the allure of risk, but at a certain point they have to be willing to take a loss in order to net a win.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 23 | 1167 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' Prospect Pool Is Loaded With Size but Lacking in One Key Area Do the Toronto Maple Leafs have a good prospect pool? | ||
| Yes | 407 | 34.9 % |
| No | 760 | 65.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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