With the major offseason events still ahead, the Leafs 2024–25 roster is far from set. The team will still have major decisions to make, as well as opportunities to take in the months ahead, particularly at the entry draft and free agency. Player movement is guaranteed, but at this point, the specifics are subject to uncertainty.
With that said there, are players already on the Leafs roster that offer some hope for improvement next season. Internal development is key to the success of any team, especially under the NHL’s hard salary cap. With that in mind let’s take a look at some candidates who might make a bigger impact next season by taking a look at the Leafs younger forwards.
Improvements from within the roster
Though the concept of player development is often associated with younger players who have yet to prove themselves in the NHL, the scope is much larger. In particular, the Leafs are host to a number of talented young NHL forwards, some of which are quite likely to take steps in the future. Development is not always linear, often subject to lulls and setbacks, but there are reasons to hope that this brighter future is not far away.
Matthew Knies has started to show signs of growth, and there is legitimate reason for fans to be excited about this trend continuing for Knies. A big, fast, and skilled winger, Knies has shown signs of a relentless motor and a willingness to sell out for his team. He is winning more puck battles, and has the playmaking skills to move pucks off the wall and into the middle quickly.
In a vacuum Knies might not have the offensive upside of some of the Leafs top wingers, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, but his strengths are a much-needed fit alongside them. Knies will have the chance to thrive under new coach Craig Berube, and is primed for a big year. Berube seemed to value having a physical element on each of his lines in St. Louis, and even used Sammy Blais on the Blues top unit during their championship season. If Knies is able to earn a power play spot his production would be boosted. The best of Knies is yet to come, and the early results have already been promising.
Bobby McMann is a bit older than most on this list, but headed into his second NHL season there might yet be more to come from McMann. At the very least he should be able to replicate his efforts, which would be a boon for the Leafs even before considering his affordable cap hit. McMann has made it to this point through determination, a talent that will continue to flourish, renewed with the vigour of an NHL spot in his grasp.
McMann is likely to be a favourite for new coach Craig Berube, which should see him as a fixture within the Leafs top nine forward group. Not without offensive talent, McMann has a good shot, and is willing to get his hands dirty in tight. McMann was effective throughout the lineup, but showed a particular synergy alongside John Tavares on a line that was relied upon defensively.
Pontus Holmberg may not seem as much a Berube style player, but Holmberg has a tremendous opportunity before him. He’s is responsible and reliable, willing to bring intensity to the details of his game. Famously, his high-profile teammates have lauded his talents, yet there is clearly more that Holmberg has to offer.
Holmberg does have positional flexibility, something that might greatly benefit his deployment. There are clearly enough skills to imagine a greater offensive impact, but Holmberg has been a defensive presence in the meantime. Holmberg is firmly in his mid-twenties, but has shown progress each season. A career as a middle 6 forward is certainly a possibility that can be realized this coming season.
Nicholas Robertson has had a tough time staying healthy since being drafted. It’s unfortunate because the talents are quite clear. In fact, Robertson has produced consistently when given the chance. There is an issue based on his size and style of play, stuck between being sheltered on a fourth line and seeing top-six minutes in a scoring role.
Robertson definitely has the chance to be a more consistent part of an NHL lineup next season. With regular usage, or even some power play time, Robertson’s point totals would skyrocket. However, there is no guarantee that he will get this chance with the Leafs. A pending RFA, Robertson will be on an affordable contract, and will likely have his most productive season to date. It is likely that Robertson will be involved in trade rumours, and it is understandable how he might capture the imagination of those around the league.
Connor Dewar joined the Leafs at last season’s trade deadline and quickly became a staple of the fourth line and the penalty kill. Although not the biggest or heaviest player, Dewar plays with a degree of fearlessness. He is willing to carry the puck up the ice or to get into board battles. A pending RFA, the Leafs are likely interested in re-signing Dewar, a depth piece on a small cap hit. Fans should not be holding their breath waiting for huge improvements from Dewar, but he seems a cut above some of the Leafs other options for now.
Noah Gregor turned a PTO in last season’s training camp into a contract. He and the Leafs did well to get him into the lineup for 63 games last season, where he was a reasonable 4th line contributor. A pending FA once again, there is no guarantee that Gregor is back with the team. Gregor has obvious speed and a willingness to shoot, but might not have much more to give at the NHL level. Gregor could be a great low-cost depth option, ideal as an extra forward who can deliver a known quality of play.
Prospects that could help soon
Already missing a lot of draft capital in 2025, one of the main criticisms of former GM Kyle Dubas was the Leafs lack of futures. Outside of rare exceptions, drafting often takes years to evaluate in any meaningful way, but the team seems to have a very strong track record under director of amateur scouting Wes Clark. The Leafs do have something to work with outside the NHL, including their best prospect in years.
Easton Cowan is far and away the Leafs best prospect. The reigning OHL most outstanding player, Cowan has authored as strong a post-draft season as one could have hoped. Cowan is a highly skilled player with an extremely high compete level, a force on both special teams. To an extent, there is little left for Cowan to prove at the junior level, as he and the London Knights powered their way to an OHL championship and a Memorial Cup berth.
At the very least, the Leafs could slow-play Cowan next season by giving him some early regular season games, sending him to the U20 World Juniors, and even getting him into some AHL games under the guise of a conditioning stint in between. With Cowan’s growing success at the junior level, he is rising up league wide prospect rankings. This will make him a preseason darling for Leaf Nation, and even a fringe candidate for the Calder Trophy next season.
There is definitely the potential for fans to get carried away thinking that Cowan might be ready for top line usage in the NHL in his rookie season. Cowan is the best prospect the Leafs have had since Auston Matthews’ rookie season and has a path to becoming a high-level NHL forward. Berube was able to trust Robert Thomas with a top-nine role on his Stanley Cup winning Blues team, and a similar role might be very appropriate for Cowan in his rookie season. Thanks to his defensive abilities, Cowan might make an ideal linemate for John Tavares and Bobby McMann on a checking line, for example.
Fraser Minten is in a different tier of forward prospects than Cowan. There is a chance that Minten makes the team out of camp again this season, after earning some NHL games last year. While Minten has some physical tools and decent skills, his greatest strength is how he leverages his assets in a functional way. While Minten didn’t exactly light up the score sheet last season, he plays a smart, pro-style game that is built on substance more than style.
This might cap Minten’s ceiling, but it still makes Minten a valuable player that the Leafs could add to their team. Minten projects to be a play-driving centre, perhaps eventually a third line checking centre. This role definition might hurt Minten’s chances of making the team, as the Leafs will likely have a plan ahead of Minten in the role, and such roles are often given to more experienced players. It would not be a bad sign for Minten to play the entirety of next season in the AHL.
Regardless of where Minten ends up playing in 2024–25, Leafs fans will hope to see him show enough strength to play in contested ice in all three zones. The Leafs should only keep Minten in the NHL if he is commanding regular top-nine minutes, otherwise he will be better served gaining valuable professional experience as a top player for the Marlies. If Minten is able to score at over a 0.5 points per game pace in the AHL, it will be a good sign that he can be effective in the NHL sooner rather than later.
While there is a chance that Minten is ready to be that middle-six checking centre for the Leafs from the get go, the AHL is far more likely. Minten can prove himself ready for more should he hold down an important centre role for the Marlies, excelling at defence and earning lots of ice. Hitting 20 goals would be a big accomplishment that would likely signify Minten’s readiness to get to the net front against professionals.
Nikita Grebyonkin is 21, coming over from the KHL after two fairly productive seasons in Russia’s top league. This past season, Grebyonkin was second on his team in regular season scoring, producing just behind the pace of highly touted Minnesota Wild prospect Danila Yurov. Similar to Minten, Grebyonkin might be ready for a look in the NHL, but is far more likely to start in the AHL. As such, more scoring would be required from Grebyonkin to earn a promotion to the NHL than it would for Minten.
On the Marlies, Grebyonkin has the potential to be one of the team’s foremost offensive focal points as a rookie. While he is noted foremost for his speed and puck skills, Grebyonkin has some size at 6’2” which should endear him to Berube and Leafs GM Brad Treliving. Grebyonkin will be a player to watch in training camp along with Cowan and Minten, and will have to make a quick impression to take advantage of his opportunity.
Ryan Tverberg, Roni Hirvonen, Veeti Miettenen (unsigned), Jacob Quillan, and Ty Voit are among those who have the potential to truly belong in this conversation in the years to come. This begins with a standout performance in the AHL this season, as all five have a shot to be amongst the Marlies best forwards in 2024–25. Not all will contribute in the same ways, so there will be more to the evaluation than points.
Tverberg and Hirvonen had solid rookie AHL seasons, but both will have more to prove in the AHL next season before being entrusted with a regular NHL shift. A best-case scenario might see both out to strong starts next season, commanding bigger roles with the Marlies. Perhaps at mid season either might have been able to prove themselves worthy of an injury call up. Realistically, Tverberg and Hirvonen are strong seasons away from earning legitimate attention in the Leafs 2025-26 training camp.
There are no guarantees that any of these prospects make their way into the NHL, even beyond this season. There are no guarantees that they will be able to take significant strides in the AHL either. However, if they are able to do so next season it will be a positive sign. The rest of these prospects would do well to replicate the success that Tverberg and Hirvonen had this past season.
