Two European standouts with Maple Leafs ties are drawing serious NHL interest

A report from Frank Seravalli reveals two names that are gaining interest out of Europe as the next potential undrafted free agent signings.

One is German winger Veit Oswald, who had been at Toronto Maple Leafs development camp in 2024, and a big riser this season.

The other is Russian center Vitali Pinchuk, a player that has already been mentioned as an option for the Leafs as a potential add at center.

This is what I wrote after scouting Veit Oswald for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Already passed over his first two drafts, Oswald had 10 goals and 17 points in 38 games in the German DEL.

They're not eye watering numbers, and Oswald was ranked just 114th by NHL Central Scouting for European skaters, so unlikely to be drafted. So what did I see to become so enamored by this German winger to call him an NHL caliber player? A lot.

Oswald can absolutely fly. His skating and ability to move with the puck is sensational. The 21-year-old is so highly creative with the puck, and highly deceptive. Some of his plays can be downright mouth dropping.

Defensively, Oswald also uses his body well and be aggressive along the boards. He can some penalty kill potential alongside his mobility and playmaking. As an August birthday, he had clear room to grow beyond his raw potential.

There is one question mark in Oswald's game, and that's a somewhat inaccurate shot. He can still away with his high-end puckhandling skills, but finishing can leave a bit to be desired, although Oswald has 12 goals and 26 points this season for EHC Munchen.

Oswald disappointgly didn't have the strongest start last year with his ice time heavily reduced before a coaching change at Munich gave Oswald a bigger opportunity to return to form.

Like Seravalli. I have also heard Edmonton is a frontrunner for Oswald. It's little surprise, they already have two Germans in Leon Draisaitl and Josh Samanski, and have been active in the Euro FA market, already signing Czech defenseman Tobas Cibulka recently, and last season signing David Tomasek and Atro Leppanen.

Having been at Leafs development camp in 2024 following going undrafted, one Leafs person I spoke to was impressed with the German winger, but it's unknown if Toronto is in on him now.

Vitali Pinchuk has the rools required to be a reliable third line center for an NHL team, and half of the league sees him as a clear pro option.

There's nothing that stands out in Pinchuk's game like Oswald's mobility, but Pinchuk is a highly reliable center who at 6'3 uses his body very well and plays down the middle naturally.

The Belarusian has 31 goals and 66 points in 65 games for Dinamo Minsk. Don't let Pinchuk being third on the team in scoring fool you either, he's been their offensive leader.

Pinchuk looks more mature, and more dynamic than recent KHL signings Maxim Tsyplakov and Maxim Shabanov. Pinchuk has the tools to succeed at the NHL level.

The Leafs are one team believed to be in on Pinchuk, although how close they are to the front is unknown. One team I've heard in on Pinchuk is the Philadelphia Flyers, per a source.

Both Oswald and Pinchuk have clear talents to make it at the highest level, and should be real shots to make it onto an NHL roster.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Marlies’ latest signings offer a glimpse at the Maple Leafs’ future