Maple Leafs prospect showcase could reshape Toronto's NHL camp pecking order

With the Prospect Showcase kicking off next weekend, a few strong performances could end up swaying how the Maple Leafs approach their training camp decisions.

On the weekend of Sept. 12-13, the NHL's Prospect Showcase will take place for four Canadian teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs. With a slew of new and intriguing prospects and a revamped pipeline, there's a lot of excitement over who the next breakout star could be.

We know that Gavin McKenna is a lock to start the season, but what about the other hopefuls that are looking to make a statement? We have names like Ben Danford, Tinus Luc Koblar, Miroslav Holinka, Noah Chadwick, and Tyler Hopkins all vying for a spot - not to mention the copious NCAA signings sticking around from last year.

The showcase could decide which prospects earn a longer look once NHL camp gets crowded

Which means that the Showcase is going to be more than just a brief look at the future of the team, but it's a litmus test for the Maple Leafs as they try and see who is closest to making the leap. Earning trust and praise from a rookie event doesn't guarantee a roster spot but there could be players who earn an AHL job with the NHL not too far away.

Case in point a player like Danford. He's not ready to make the jump just yet, but has also proven that in his brief time with the Marlies he can be an effective shutdown defender. A strong showcase could earn Danford a longer NHL-camp look and show Toronto how close he is to becoming legitimate organizational depth on defence.

There's also players like Koblar, who while signed to Rogle in the SHL for this season, has also been rumoured to potentially make the leap to North America and continue his career with the Marlies - leading to an eventual NHL spot.

A breakout weekend could move one prospect ahead of Toronto's older depth options before camp even starts

Though that isn't necessarily going to be urgent right now, as Koblar and Danford are not going to be regulars just yet. But if a prospect does end up outplaying some of the veterans who were either signed or here previous - it could cause some issues.

Toronto has several NCAA prospects who could fight for a bottom-six spot and potentially usurp some veterans in the lineup. Brandon Buhr is a player who has a profile similar to what Bobby McMann once offered, and a strong showing could push him ahead of a player like Steven Lorentz.

There's also a few defenders like Vinny Borgesi and Hayes Hundley who could fight for that last defensive spot with Troy Stecher, and they would certainly be fighting alongside Philippe Myers in order to get one of the few depth slots available.

But that also means that other prospects who haven't gotten their shot may not end up getting one at all, as players like Marshall Rifai and William Villeneuve have been in the system for years without a real look - and more competition means they could be pushed down even further.

It's a good problem to have if you're the Maple Leafs, because you'd rather have an abundance of prospects to choose from than a bare list. But it also creates issues if those prospects take that next step and prove they can be an effective NHL talent - because Toronto invested heavily in one area when they could have just gotten the help they needed for free.

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