NHL Scouts Signal Maple Leafs May Have Found a 6-Foot-1 Draft Steal
Photo credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
A potential draft steal of the Toronto Maple Leafs is generating increased buzz as one of the Leafs top prospects, with some scouts eyeing him as a potential NHLer.
A lot of praise has come for 2024 5th rounder Miroslav Holinka, who was drafted 151st overall last year by the Toronto Maple Leafs after a solid season in Czechia with Ocelari Trinec.
Holinka has continued to impress since coming to the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings, and has shown that his game is very translatable to the smaller North American ice.
With his game on the rise, many public scouts are giving praise to Holinka, with it being viewed as a realistic possibility that the 19-year-old could be in line one day to be a regular NHLer with the chance to be an everyday lineup option.
What NHL Scouts Are Saying About Miroslav Holinka
Many scouts have lauded praise onto Holinka as a player that has a very clear pathway to pro potential, but have also been a bit hesitant to put any lofty projections on what his upside is as a player, which is more than fair.
Corey Pronman of The Athletic calls Holinka a reliable well-rounded player who could make the NHL, but notes that he lacks a dominant trait to give himself a stronger upside, while also noting his best performances came at the World Juniors against the best in his age group.
He's a center with intriguing tools, and a good skater with strong puck skills who can beat defenders one-on-one with pace. I don't think he's a great playmaker or finisher, but he's strong enough in both areas.
His compete level is decent. Coaches trust him, and he can play both ways, but he's not overly physical. He checks a lot of boxes, even if he doesn't stand out at anything, but he could be a bottom-six forward in the NHL.
His compete level is decent. Coaches trust him, and he can play both ways, but he's not overly physical. He checks a lot of boxes, even if he doesn't stand out at anything, but he could be a bottom-six forward in the NHL.
Steven Ellis of The Daily Faceoff echoes much of the same sentiments, calling Holinka an impressive two-way forward who has some good habits at both ends of the ice.
The Czech forward is a reliable two-way threat who does a lot in his own zone. Scouts like how he supports his defenders and that he's willing to block shots and get in the way of scoring chances.
Holinka shares some of the same space as Leafs 2025 second-rounder Tyler Hopkins, who plays a similar two-way game with a lack of a standout trait, and Jacob Quillan, who has shown his upside in the AHL but still maxes out as a bottom-six forward.
How Holinka's 6-Foot-1 Frame Fits Into Toronto's Plans
Holinka isn't the biggest player in what is becoming an increasingly big prospect pool, but he's a player who has a lot in his game that's projectable to the pro level.
Miroslav Holinka plays a reliable two-way game that has taken some big steps since coming over to North America. One area that Holinka seemed to need some work in is his puck control, something he has gotten better at in the WHL, as is his ability to provide defensive pressure.
Having size isn't the end-all for the Leafs and their prospect pool, and Holinka is by no means undersized at 6'1 even if that's becoming on the small side in Toronto, and Holinka uses his body well not only to defend but to move the puck in traffic and create scoring opportunities.
Currently, Holinka projects as a bottom-six center who could potentially play on the penalty kill. Holinka has played as well on the wing but could occupy a 3C role in the NHL if all goes right in his development.
If he can follow in the footsteps of players like Sidney Crosby, who utilize their hips to create space, he could find more success as well.
Why Maple Leafs Fans Should Watch Holinka Closely This Season
Miroslav Holinka is one of the most promising prospects in the Leafs system, and is one of only a few upside players the team has in their prospect pool.
Toronto's current draft ideology is less ambitious and more focused on hoping to find players who fit in the end of their lineup. The Leafs aren't drafting for excitement but they have a potential exciting player in Holinka.
Holinka's game is a bit too plain and lacking advanced skills to make him a top-six forward, especially down the middle, but he very could make the pro jump in a bottom-six role while able to play a 200-foot game, and should manage to grow that full-ice ability next season with more comfort of smaller ice.
It's possible that Holinka is one of the best players in the WHL next season as his maturity takes a bigger leap and he becomes one of the older players in the league, and benefits from both the experience and well-rounded game that makes him a potential future NHLer.
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