The Toronto Maple Leafs do not have one of the highest ceiling prospect pools in the NHL. Trading first and second round picks for years has limited their ability to grab top-end talent in the draft, and they haven’t found that diamond in the rough in the later rounds.
That being said, their prospect pool is still solid. The cupboards are not completely bare, and while trading one or two of these guys would drop the Leafs to one of the worst systems in the league, there’s almost no chance that happens. The Leafs aren’t good, so if anything, the prospect pool might look better after the trade deadline.
Either way, let’s take a mid-season look at the Leafs prospect pool, and give our rankings of the top five youngsters in the Leafs system.
Easton Cowan
I did not see Easton Cowan playing full-time in the NHL happening this season, but the kid earned his spot on the roster and has been generally pretty good in the big leagues so far. In 43 games, he’s got seven goals and 10 assists, and while his play has taken a bit of a dip recently, Cowan definitely belongs in the NHL.
Cowan looked like a reach on draft night, but now projects as a top-six forward for Toronto. His size will limit him defensively, and his overall defensive game needs quite a bit of work, but he works his tail off. There’s no reason to believe he can’t be at least solid in his own end, but his real talent will come in transition and in the offensive zone.
He’s made some nifty moves already in the NHL, and his confidence will only grow as he matures. The baby face can fool you, but Cowan seems to fit right in. Skipping the AHL is rare for a 28th overall pick, but Cowan is that good. He’s easily the Leafs top prospect.
Dennis Hildeby
I’ll admit, I was wrong about Hildeby. I always ranked him behind Artur Akhtyamov, but he has taken a massive leap this year and now projects as at least a decent 1B in the NHL.
The 6’7 netminder was thrust into NHL action this year before most thought he was ready; he looked pretty terrible last year in six NHL appearances. But out of nowhere, Hildeby was fantastic. He’s arguably been the Leafs best starter this year, leading the team in Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes with 0.56. He’s the only goalie in the positive of GSAx, according to MoneyPuck.
If the Leafs didn’t have a ton invested in Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, Hildeby would still be with the big club. But his play has opened up the possibility of a goalie trade in Toronto, as he’s clearly ready to take the leap from the AHL. He’s really, really good, and could be a key part of an elite tandem in the near future.
Ben Danford
Drafted 31st overall in 2024, Danford seems like another great late-first-round pick from Toronto. His stats will never jump off the page – he has a career high of 33 points from the back-end – but he still projects as a top-four two-way defenceman in the NHL. He’ll likely have a full AHL season next year before battling for an NHL roster spot in late 2027.
Danford actually made the Team Canada World Junior team this season, playing a shutdown role for the disappointing Canadian team. But in seven games, he was a +1, and played his role quite well.
In junior, Danford is on pace to crush his career high in points, with 18 points in 32 games so far. He’s never been able to eclipse 0.5 points per game, but since being traded for Brantford after just eight games, he’s put up 14 points in 24 games.
The point totals don’t matter too much for Danford, though. His NHL ability will be decided by his play in the defensive zone and the breakout. He can make a great first pass, and his offensive contribution will come from his ability to get the puck up the ice. His AHL season next year will be fascinating to watch.
Miroslav Holinka
Holinka, the Leafs fifth round pick in 2024, has exploded in the WHL this season. He’s already scored 31 goals and 69 points in just 47 games, and is a top-10 scorer in the entire league.
With a 6’2, 185 lbs frame, Holinka has the size to fit right in once he hits the pros. His growth from last year (45 points in 47 games) shows the Leafs might have a steal on their hands just two years after drafting Holinka.
Like most players in junior, Holinka will need to work on his defensive game a ton if he wants to become a reliable NHler. But the offensive tools are there, and his hands and shot will be NHL-ready by the time he leaves junior. He will likely start next year in the AHL, but may need more time than Cowan did, or Danford does. He’s still quite raw, but the tools are clearly there.
Artur Akhtyamov
I couldn’t make a prospect rankings without including my guy, netminder Artur Akhtyamov of the Toronto Marlies.
Yes, Hildeby has passed him. But I still believe Arty will be a regular NHLer at some point. His athleticism, attitude, and fearlessness make him the stereotypical Russian stud. He can absolutely fly around the net, which makes up for his average size. He’s not afraid to challenge shooters, and is a willing flying poke-checker. He’s super fun to watch.
It’s been a bit of a down year for Akhtyamov, who is rocking a .901 save percentage in the AHL so far. He did make the AHL all-star game, and showed out at the skills competition, but still has a ways to go before being NHL-ready.
Like Holinka, Akhtyamov is a raw prospect who needs fine-tuning. His style of play is erratic and hectic, but his athleticism allows him to fly around a bit more than most goalies. He’ll need to calm his play down to stay consistent in the NHL, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t be able to.
