As part of LRT's continuing efforts to help keep Leaf fans informed during the rebuild process we present our listings of the top Leaf prospects.
On this page you will find at listing of the top 5 Leaf prospects playing in each of the 5 major areas - NHL, AHL, CHL, NCAA and Europe. The rankings are those of LRT and not an official ranking by the team, the leagues or any other site.
JUMP TO: NHL | AHL | CHL | NCAA | Europe
While we endevour to be as thorough as possible in our research, in some cases information is limited on some players and as a result our rankings may not reflect the perfect order of the top prospects at the various levels. However we are confident that the lists do contain the top Leaf prospects playing at that level and are ranked according to the results of our research.
The purpose of this section of LEAFSREBUILDTRACKER.COM is to allow Leaf fans to see just what types of prospects are currently in the system and to give Leaf fans who may have an opportunity to watch these players, either live or on TV, a chance to scout them for themselves and form their own opinons.
As players graduate or move from one level of the development system to another LRT will update and adjust these lists accordingly. If you have seen some of these players in person or have done some scouting of your own and feel a player is ranked incorrectly or if you feel a player does not appear that should, we encourage you to contact us via email and we will investigate and make changes accordingly.
To see more players that are in the Leaf system we recommend you check out our draft tracking section and for even more research we recomend hockeydb.com where you can research any of the players listed here to see their statistics and playing history. We also recommend the home sites of the AHL and CHL (OHL, WHL and QMJHL). You can also find some information on torontomarlies.com however we find that site to be sorely lacking in relevant and accurate infomation and clogged with poor, in your face marketing.
Overall we feel that while the Leafs may not be stocked to the ceiling with promising young talent, the warehouse is far from empty. There are plenty of players that we may see with the Leafs in the coming years and while they may not be superstars in the making they are a collection of 2nd and 3rd line caliber prospects who should help fill out the roster in the years to come,
As it stands now Luke Schenn stands alone as what people would call a blue chip prospect, one capable of playing at a high level going forward. However we encourage Leaf fans to be patient with him. To this point he is on track to be a standout hard hitting, defnsive defensemen along the lines of a Robyn Regher or Adam Foote. If he develops stronger offensive abilities as he matures then he may move into a Scott Stevens, Chris Pronger or Dion Phaneuf category but let's all let him develop at his own pace and not turn him into another Luke Richardson (with all due respect to Mr. Richardson).
Prospects in the NHL? No, we haven't lost our minds. However as is often the case with rebuilding clubs that lack of depth means some of the best prospects find there way into the NHL early for "on the job training".
For our pruposes we evaluated all the Leaf players with limited NHL experience, who are age 25 and under. The resulting list of the top Leaf NHL prospects can be found below.
| RANK | POS | PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
| 1 | D | Luke Schenn | Maple Leafs | 19 |
| 2 | C | Mikhail Grabovski | Maple Leafs | 25 |
| 3 | RW | Nikolai Kulemin | Maple Leafs | 22 |
| 4 | C | John Mitchell | Maple Leafs | 24 |
| 5 | D | Ian White | Maple Leafs | 24 |
ANALYSIS
#1 D Luke Schenn
2008 5th overall pick Luke Schenn surprised many by making the NHL team in his first year and has been impressive defensively, while logging big minutes and playing against the top forwards of other NHL teams on a nightly basis. Schenn has shown a lot of grit, determination and skill in his rookie campaign and still has a lot of potential to grow on.
#2 C Mikhail Grabovski
Grabovski has been hot and cold this season, however the Belarusian forward has put up good numbers in his first full NHL season. LRT is a bit concerned by his large penalty minute totals and his continual run ins with teammate Jason Blake this season. Next season should be a real indicator for Grabovski when it comes to seeing just how much potential he has left.
#3 RW Nikolai Kulemin
Leaf management had high hopes for Kulemin, the Russian forward that they took in the 2nd round of the 2006 draft. Unfortunately he hasn't turned out to be the sniper they had projected him to be, at least not yet. However, what they have found is that he is much better defensively than orignally thought and has the ability to play physical when needed. If Kulemin can find a way to max out his offensive potential he could be a real assest for the Leafs going forward.
#4 C John Mitchell
John Mitchell finally cracked the Leaf lineup this season and found himself centering just about every line before season's end. It is that versitility that makes him a valuable forward. Don't expect Mitchell to win any scoring titles, but he could turn out to be a very good 3rd line type centre for the club. That said, LRT would like to see some improvemnt on the defensive end as well as some work on faceoffs heading into next season.
#5 D Ian White
What can yo usay about Ian White? He was all but written off at the start of the 2008/2009 season when the Leafs were bursting at the seams with defensemen. However, he didn't complain or disrupt the dressing room while he sat in the press box and eventually made his way into the lineup first as a forward then back to his natural defense position. While he's never going to be the next coming of Brian Rafalski, he has proven himself to be a character player with grit, good offensive capabilities and sound defensive play. This may be the best Ian White can be but even if it is the Leafs have themselves a solid 2nd unit defensemen going forward.
The Toronto Maple Leafs AHL affliate Toronto Marlies don't have many true prospects among them but there are a few players to keep an eye on. Hopefully as the Leafs rebuild the Marlies will become a true farm team.
Below is a ranked list by LRT of the top players under the age of 25 at the start of the season currently playing with the AHL Marlies.
| RANK | POS | PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
| 1 | LW | Jiri Tlusty | Toronto | 21 |
| 2 | D | Anton Stralman | Toronto | 22 |
| 3 | RW | Jeremy Williams | Toronto | 25 |
| 4 | G | Justin Pogge | Toronto | 22 |
| 5 | D | Jaime Sifers | Toronto | 26 |
ANALYSIS
#1 LW Jiri Tlusty
With 2 of the top 5 prospects over the age of 25 there obviously isn't a lot of promising young talent on the farm. However there is at least one bright light on the Marlies in 2006 1st round pick Jiri Tlusty, who has flurrished since being returned to the Marlies. LRT believes Leaf fans can pencil him into their lineups for the big club next year. The young Czech forward wasn't able to stick with the NHL club in either of his first 2 attempts, however the 3rd time will definately be a charm and hopefully along with fellow 2006 draft pick and current Leaf Nikolai Kulemin can provide a solid young foundation of offense for this rebuilding club.
#2 D Anton Stralman
Anton Stralman has been up and down between the NHL and AHL and hasn't seemd out of place with the big club, however at this point he hasn't shown enough offensively to make up for some defensive short comings. LRT sees Stralman cracking the NHL lineup next season but only if one of the 2 big ticket offensive defensemen (Kaberle and Kubina) leave via trade without another established NHL puck moving defensman landing in Toronto.
#3 RW Jeremy Williams
Right Winger Jeremy Williams was having his best season with the Marlies and showed a lot of promise at the NHL level with the Leafs before getting injured. With excellent speed, decent size and a signs of being able to find the back of the net, LRT believes that he will be given a chance next year at the NHL level. Look for Williams to start next year with the Leafs, joining his good friend John Mitchell on the big club.
#4 G Justin Pogge
Goaltender Justin Pogge, who the Hockey News recently declared the top Leaf prospect in any league, comes in at #4 on LRT's AHL prospects list. One need only to look at his inconsistent play at the AHL level over the last 2 seasons and his balloon-like numbers in the NHL this season to see he isn't the superstar goalie the Leafs had hoped. LRT foresees another full season with the Marlies for Pogge next season, if he is resigned and hopefully he'll show the Leafs something to renew their hopes.
#5 D Jamie Sifers
Defensemen Jamie Sifers will likely spend another year with the Marlies and be the call up guy if/when one of the NHL defensemen go down with injury. at 26 years of age, Sifers is an elderstatesmen as far as prosects are concerned and while he plays hard and is sound defensively he is a smaller player and doesn't make up for that lack of size with enough skill to consider him a full time NHL player.
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have many prospects playing in the CHL as the majority of their draft picks from the last 3 years have been US college or European players. In fact,
LRT was only able to find 5 players of any note that belong to the Maple Leafs in the OHL, WHL and QMJHL combined.
Below you will find those 5 prospects and their accompanying LRT ranking.
| RANK | POS | PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
| 1 | C | Chris DiDomenico | Drummondville | 20 |
| 2 | RW | Dale Mitchell | Windsor | 19 |
| 3 | C | Mikhail Stefanovich | Quebec | 20 |
| 4 | C | Joël Champagne | P.E.I. | 20 |
| 5 | RW | Greg Scott | Seattle | 20 |
ANALYSIS
#1 C Chris DiDomenico
Topping the list of CHL Leaf prospects is C Chris DiDomenico, who was taken in the 6th round of the 2007 entry draft. The young centre played very well on the Canadian World Junoir team in December and continued that success into the QMJHL season, which he split between with Saint John and Drummondville. The Ontario native still needs to bulk up a bit before reaching the NHL level and LRT sees the recently signed forward starting next season with the Marlies.
#2 RW Dale Mitchell
Ranking number 2 on our list of CHL prospects is Right Winger Dale Mitchell of the Windsor Spitfires. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 entry draft, Mitchell has done well with the powerhouse Spitfires so far this season, averaging over a point a game. Mitchell played 2 games with the Marlies during their playoff run last year and we see a full season there along side Chris DiDomenico next season.
#3 C Mikhail Stefanovich
Belarusian Mikhail Stefanovich was taken in the 4th round of the 2008 draft and has put up big numbers this season in Qubec City of the QMJHL. He's a larger version of his countryman and current Leaf Mikhail Grabovski with a bit better finish. He has the tools and the size for the NHL and if he can use that size a bit more effectively LRT sees big things in his future. LRT believes that while he is number 3 on the list of CHL prospects he has the best outside shot of making next year's Leaf squad due to his size and improved play this season. Howeve,r he will likely join our number 1 and 2 ranked prospects on the Marlies in the end.
#4 C Joël Champagne
Centre Joël Champagne is currently playing for the P.E.I. rocket in the QMJHL and has put up some good numbers there. Champagne has some great size at 6'4" and 220 lbs, however he lacks the finesse and finish of the top 3 players on our list. LRT is hopeful that the Leafs will make a spot available for him on the Marlies at the expense of some veteran talent next season but it may not happen.
#5 RW Greg Scott
Greg Scott is the final player on our list and the 6'0" 188 lb forward has been productive for the Seattle Thunderbirds for the last 2 seasons, averaging around a point per game each time. Unfortunately he hasn't done anything to show that he's ready to make an impact at the pro level. Couple that with his relatively small size and LRT pegs him for a move to Canadian University hockey next season.
Many teams in the NHL have been looking at US College level hockey for players over the last decade and the Leafs are no expection in that regard, The benefit of College players is that when they exit college hockey they are more mature and much closer to their physical peak.
With American Brian Burke now running the Leaf team we may see even more NCAA players in the system going forward, For now however, LRT has ranked the top 5 US college players owned by the Leafs below.
| RANK | POS | PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
| 1 | LW | Viktor Stalberg | Vermont | 23 |
| 2 | C | Chad Rau | Colorado | 23 |
| 3 | RW | Alex Berry | Massachusetts | 23 |
| 4 | G | Grant Rollheiser | Boston University | 19 |
| 5 | RW | Jimmy Hayes | Boston College | 20 |
ANALYSIS
#1 LW Viktor Stallberg
Analysis Pending
#2 C Chad Rau
Analysis Pending
#3 RW Alex Berry
Analysis Pending
#4 G Grant Rollheiser
Analysis Pending
#5 RW Jimmy Hayes
Analysis Pending
For many years in the 90s the Leafs made a habit of drafting European players. Not a bad idea given the abundance of European talent that was available, however very few of the players they picked ever turned out.
Lately the Leafs have moved away from their European focus, instead drafting players from all over the map and we will see what impact Brian Burke has on that philosphy going forward. Below you will find LRT's ranking of the top European Leaf prospects.
| RANK | POS | PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
| 1 | LW | Jerome Flaake | Cologne (DEL) | 19 |
| 2 | D | Carl Gunnarsson | Linkoping (SEL) | 22 |
| 3 | C | Leo Komarov | Pelicans (FNL) | 22 |
| 4 | D | Korbinian Holzer | Metro Stars (DEL) | 20 |
| 5 | D | Juraj Mikus | Trencin Dukla | 20 |
ANALYSIS
#1 LW Jerome Flaake
Analysis Pending
#2 D Carl Gunnarsson
Analysis Pending
#3 C Leo Komarov
Analysis Pending
#4 D Korbinian Holzer
Analysis Pending
#5 D Juraj Mikus
Analysis Pending