Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Prospect Update

Rather than drill down on the Leafs problems today, I figured I’d post some more positive news in regards to the Leafs prospects.

AHL

Christian Hanson has been called up as a result of the John Mitchell knee injury.  Mitchell could be gone for a while, so we’ll see how Hanson does with his opportunity, and if he can run with it by contributing some offense, or at least making space for others up front.  I’m curious to see where Wilson plays the kid.  In 18 games with the Marlies this season, Hanson has produced 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points and a +4 rating.

Alex Foster was named AHL player of the week yesterday, following his return from a groin injury. Foster went bonkers offensively, producing 6 goals and 1 assist in his past 4 games.  Foster has played 3 games with the Leafs in his career, and is unlikely at this point to be promoted to the big club.  That being said, if his offensive push continues, it will be difficult for the Leafs to ignore him.

Jiri Tlusty and Viktor Stålberg have also continued to produce offensively on the farm, as has former Minnesota Wild prospect Ryan Hamilton, who - like Christian Hanson - fits more of a power forward mold.  Hamilton was the return in the Robbie Earl trade, and so far this year he has 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points, to go along with 28 penalty minutes in 18 games.

From a goaltending perspective, James Reimer has picked up where he left off last season in being named the ECHL playoff MVP.  He is currently 5-1-1 in 7 starts, with a .928 SV% and 2.10 GAA.  His only loss in the month of November came via the shoot out, after he stopped 33 of 34 shots in regulation and OT, for a .971 SV%.  Suffice it to say, he looks like a decent prospect at this point, though it’s still relatively early in his development.

NCAA

Jerry D’Amigo is fitting in nicely on the RPI power play, and so far the Engineers are performing far above the level they did last season.  He, and fellow freshman Brandon Pirri, are both top line offensive producers for RPI, and their production has helped lift the team to 7-5-1 record overall, and a 3-1-0 record within the ECAC.  D’Amigo is currently 16th in the ECAC in scoring with 11 points in 13 games, good for second on RPI behind Pirri’s 12 points.  He is second in the conference in game winning goals with 2, and shots with 58.

In 10 games, Jimmy Hayes has 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points with the Boston College Eagles.  Not overwhelming numbers, but not bad either.  BC is currently third in the Hockey East Conference, and their season is going reasonably well so far.

Boston University is off to a sluggish start, and last season’s phenom goalie, Kieran Millan, has been far from stellar so far, sporting a 3-7-0 record, .866 save percentage, and 3.42 GAA, in 10 games played. In Millan’s last start, the Terriers won 6 to 5 in OT over Harvard, but Millan gave up 5 goals on 21 shots, in a fairly poor showing.

This bodes well for Leafs goaltending prospect Grant Rollheiser, who was used in a limited back up role last season.  So far this year he has played in 2 games, and has a 1-0-1 record, an .881 save percentage, and 3.36 GAA.   Hopefully he’ll get a larger opportunity to start going forward.

CHL

In 13 games since being traded to the Owen Sound Attack, Jesse Blacker has 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points, and an unfortunate -8 rating.  To be fair to Blacker, Owen Sound are second from the bottom in the OHL Western Conference, with a 10-14-3 record and only 23 points.  The Windsor Spitfires on the other hand have a 21-3-3 record.  Not quite the same situation.

Meanwhile, on the Windsor team Blacker left, Kenny Ryan has posted 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points in 14 games.  That might seem decent, but when you realize that he’s 8th in points per game amongst the forwards, it’s not quite as impressive as it might have first appeared.  Also back with the Spitfires is Dale Mitchell - as an overage player.  In 5 games, Mitchell has 6 points and a +6 rating, most notably with 2 goals and an assist last game against the Guelph Storm.  Unfortunately for Ryan, Mitchell will push him down the depth chart in Windsor, so his minutes may drop a tad.  Hopefully the competition engenders a higher level of play from both players.

Jamie Devane has suited up for 10 games with the Plymouth Whalers following a broken hand issue in training camp.  So far he has 1 assist, and no fighting majors.  Unfortunately since the break, he has yet to return to a comfort zone.

Joel Champagne has maintained a point per game pace with the PEI Rocket and is leading the team in scoring, producing 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 23 games.  He is also winning 61% of his faceoffs, which is frankly awesome considering he’s taken 600 so far this season which is the 5th most in the QMJHL.

Mikhail Stefanovich has only played in 13 games so far this season with the Quebec Remparts, which amounts to less than half of their matches.  He has produced 6 goals and 9 assists so far, for a total of 15 points.  He is one of a few Leaf prospects that needs to step up a bit if he hopes to have a future in the NHL.

Nazem Kadri has continued to play for the London Knights this season, and has also struggled to return to the form that saw him drafted 7th overall.  He is leading the Knights in scoring with 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 22 games so far this season.  He also posts a decent +13 rating on a team that is currently first in their division, and fourth in the OHL with a 17-7-1 record.

In 18 games with the Peterborough Petes so far this season, Barron Smith, has improved a bit defensively, and has put up 3 assists, and a +3 rating.  He has also registered 34 penalty minutes.  He hasn’t played since November 12th, so he is likely out with an injury.

USHL

Eric Knodel is suiting up this season with the Des Moines Buccaneers prior to moving on to Div I NCAA hockey with the University of New Hampshire.  The super sized 6′6″, 225 lb D man has shown some offensive skills, producing 1 goal and 7 assist through 14 games.  The Bucs themselves are performing near the bottom of the league, but Knodel is logging lots of ice time, and is developing reasonably well.  He is currently second on the team for defenseman scoring.  Hopefully that part of his game continues to develop.