Having already traded their next two first-round picks, it goes without saying that the Toronto Maple Leafs are firmly focused on the season at hand. Outside the week-to-week performance of the team, there are other things to take into account. Though the Leafs are in the business of the present, their lack of futures makes the prospects in their system all the more vital to the team’s future.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the Leafs top prospects and how they have been performing this season.
Headliners
With the coming of age of Easton Cowan, the Leafs have a space at the top of their prospect pipeline. One might argue that Dennis Hildeby is on his way to graduating to a full-time NHL role as well. Both will be vital in the Leafs efforts to work their way up the standings after an underwhelming start to the season.
Ben Danford
This leaves Ben Danford as the most likely to be seen as the Leafs top prospect. The right-shot defenceman is not known for his offensive game, so understanding his progression will need to come from a look beyond his production.
Danford was traded to a contending OHL team, as the Brantford Bulldogs have a stacked team. Clearly, Danford is seen as a key piece for the Bulldogs, which should help raise his profile as the season continues.
It should help that Danford is expected to be a big part of Team Canada’s U20 World Junior team at the end of the month. For many Leafs fans this will be the first time they get to see an extended glimpse of Danford’s game. With all the coverage of the event coming soon, expect to hear a lot more about him over that time.
While making Team Canada is important, and playing on such a strong OHL team will help matters, Danford has already begun to prove himself beyond the junior ranks. He was a pleasant surprise at training camp, and Leafs coaches were eager to praise his game.
NHL-readiness
This bodes extremely well for his ability to translate his game to higher levels going forward.
This will be Danford’s final junior season, and he might earn more attention if the Bulldogs are able to make a deep playoff run. Many expect that the Bulldogs will have a good chance at winning the OHL, earning a spot at the Memorial Cup. If the Bulldogs falter, there is a chance that Danford finds himself in a handful of AHL games down the stretch.
A spot out of training camp next season is not out of the question, but should not be the expectation either. It might take some time for Danford to adjust to professional ranks, and experience will help solidify his defensive game. The Leafs have not been shy to give their top prospects short NHL stints under GM Brad Treliving, so there is a reasonable chance that he sees some NHL action next season.
His ascent will be vital for the Leafs given the age and injury history of Chris Tanev. Danford would do well to learn from Tanev, not only as an in-zone defender but also as a capable support passer. While his offensive upside seems limited, Danford has the tools to be an asset in helping his team move the puck up ice.
Victor Johansson
Perhaps a bigger surprise, left-shot defenceman Victor Johansson has continued to impress since being drafted. At the time, the Leafs hoped that he would get bigger, but Johansson has impressed in several areas.
Like Danford, Johansson figures to be an impact player at this year’s World Juniors. The Swede shows a lot of offensive potential, with the skating and puck skills to be an offensive focal point at the tournament.
He has continued to rise up the ranks in Sweden as well, earning games in the Allsvenskan and the SHL this season. Perhaps he will be able to parlay a strong World Juniors into a full-time role in the SHL down the stretch of the season.
Johansson might be a bit further away from the NHL than Danford, but no doubt he will find himself on the radar sooner rather than later. It will be necessary for Johansson to prove himself offensively in either the SHL or AHL next season to set himself up with the chance to push for an NHL spot in 2027–28. With fellow puck-moving left shots Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson aging, Johansson continuing to progress will be vital to the long-term health of the Leafs blueline.
Standout centres
While the Leafs do have a number of notable prospects in the CHL, two forwards have distinguished themselves this season. Another young centre finds himself impressing in the SHL as a teenager.
Harry Nansi
A 2025 fifth-round pick, Harry Nansi has taken a big step in his development this season. The right shot forward has already smashed his production from last season, scoring 37 points in 33 games, up from 23 points in 67 games last season. His work ethic was a big positive from his draft day scouting report, but his playmaking skills have begun to show through.
At 6’3, there is a good frame for Nansi to work with, and the right shot forward seems to have made the best of his work with development coaches this summer. Perhaps even more encouraging is that Nansi has been moved to centre for his OHL team. While many report his skating to be one of the bigger concerns, his breakout season brings with it a lot of optimism.
Nansi is on pace to be near his team’s most productive player alongside potential 2026 first-round pick Pierce Mbuyi. With continued growth, Nansi could assert himself in conversations for Canada’s U20 World Junior team next season, which would be a huge accomplishment. Nansi is just scratching the surface of his potential, but on this trajectory, he might quickly rise up as a draft steal.
Miroslav Holinka
While in the final year of junior eligibility, Miroslav Holinka has impressed nonetheless. He is near the lead in points in the WHL, and his game has traits that might help him translate into the professional ranks. A smart, 200-foot game has impressed Leafs coaches in the past, and his ability to play centre certainly adds value.
While his production is impressive, Holinka will need to show some offence at higher levels before fans get carried away envisioning top-six upside. Still, Holinka has enough tools to impress in a number of roles. Likely AHL-bound next season, Holinka will have the opportunity to raise his stock with a strong rookie season.
Tinus Luc Koblar
Another 2025 draftee has authored a strong start to the season, as Norwegian Tinus Luc Koblar is impressing in the SHL. While his production still does not jump off the page, Koblar has done well to earn a full-time role in one of the better leagues in the world.
Koblar has size and is able to leverage that into a style of play that is effective and functional. Able to win puck battles, make smart support passes, and protect the puck, Koblar’s game would seem to translate well to higher levels of competition. If he can continue to grow his game, there should be a path to the NHL, though an increase in production over this next season or two would be a great signifier for more upside. Koblar should have the opportunity to hone his game in the SHL or the AHL over that span.
AHL standouts
Players in the AHL are much closer to being NHL-ready. It is entirely feasible that these players can fight their way into the NHL lineup this season or next.
Jacob Quillan
Recognized for his strong defensive play in the NCAA, Quillan has really stepped up his production in his second professional season. He continues to spend time with the NHL club, though without much rope from coach Craig Berube. Together, it is not quite enough to stand out at a league-wide level, but the key is that Quillan continues to improve.
Some might consider the recent NHL success of former Marlie Alex Steeves an example of how a bit of trust at the right time can go a long way. Expect Quillan to hover, however, as he will have to continue to hone his craft and find multiple roles to contribute to. He will need to be skilled, smart, determined, and ruthless to stay ready for when the time comes for an audition in a true NHL role.
Luke Haymes
Luke Haymes should be thought of as a year behind Quillan, meaning any NHL consideration begins next season. The good news is that Haymes has shown some positive signs as a rookie. With a solid points pace so far, any positive momentum in the second half of the season will go a long way towards becoming a person of interest for the next training camp.
Defencemen
With a plethora of injuries on the blueline, the Leafs have been scrambling for answers. The two most likely options still considered prospects, as in not including Marshall Rifai, are Henry Thrun and William Villeneuve. Both are puck-moving options who will need a sound defensive game to be able to stick around. Without game-breaking skill, they will need to be simple and effective rather than high-flying.
Thrun has more NHL experience and is a left shot. Villeneuve, meanwhile, is a right shot who has worked his way up the Leafs system. Both are fringe prospects at this point in their careers, so this season might be their best chance at making the Leafs.
Elsewhere, Cade Webber roams the left side as a more defensive option. His production will never indicate his NHL readiness. Simply by age, he is approaching this doorstep. In total, there are several other prospects in the Leafs system making positive steps, but are further from any NHL relevance.
