{"id":14373,"date":"2017-08-11T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T13:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=14373"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:41","slug":"tsp-toronto-maple-leafs-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/08\/11\/tsp-toronto-maple-leafs-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. \u00a0During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old is the cut-off for prospects. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>Owners of the number one ranked farm system in last year’s Top Shelf Prospects; no team got more of an impact from their rookies than the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>. Led by Calder Trophy winner\u00a0Auston Matthews<\/a><\/strong>, the Leafs returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Matthews was not the only rookie to make an impact in Toronto. Mitch Marner<\/a><\/strong>, William Nylander<\/a><\/strong>, Connor Brown<\/a><\/strong>, and Zach Hyman<\/a> <\/strong>all played big roles in the Leafs top nine. Meanwhile,\u00a0Nikita Zaitsev<\/a><\/strong> contributed in a top four role on the blue line. This season gives Leafs fans big hope for the future.<\/p>\n

There has not been many changes this off-season in Toronto. The moves made add experience to this young team. The Leafs signed veteran forward<\/a> Patrick Marleau<\/a><\/strong>, Stanley Cup winning defenceman<\/a> Ron Hainsey<\/a><\/strong>, and journeyman fourth line centre<\/a> Dominic Moore<\/a><\/strong>. These moves indicate that Leafs management are transitioning from the re-build, into an attempt to build a contender in the near future.<\/p>\n

2017 NHL Draft Picks:\u00a0Timothy Liljegren<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Eemeli Rasanen<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Ian Scott<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Vladislav Kara<\/strong>,\u00a0Fedor Gordeev<\/strong>,\u00a0Ryan McGregor<\/strong>,\u00a0Ryan O\u2019Connell<\/strong>
\nGraduates: Auston Matthews<\/a><\/strong>, Mitch Marner<\/a><\/strong>, William Nylander<\/a><\/strong>, Nikita Zaitsev<\/a><\/strong>, Connor Brown<\/a><\/strong>, Nikita Soshnikov<\/a><\/b>,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Top Prospect: Timothy Liljegren<\/h3>\n

The Maple Leafs drafted Liljegren with the 17th overall pick in this year\u2019s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Liljegren. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can\u00a0check out the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

#2 Prospect: Kasperi Kapanen<\/a><\/h3>\n

Right Wing\/Left Wing — shoots Right
\nBorn July 23rd, 1996 — Kuopio, Finland
\nHeight 5’11” — Weight 180 lbs [180 cm \/ 82 kg]
\nDrafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> in the 1st round, #22 overall at the 2014 NHL Draft
\nTraded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, June 2015<\/p>\n