The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL (Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Matthew Knies), but the club under former GM Kyle Dubas and current GM Brad Treliving had different ideas of what kind of prospects they wanted to populate the organization with. There has been a slow weeding out process of the smaller Dubas prospects in favor of predominantly larger forwards and defenseman that fit the traits that Treliving is looking for
As we’ve done on a yearly basis, we are ranking the club’s top prospects over the upcoming weeks based on their progress in either the NCAA, CHL, Europe, ECHL, or AHL and their potential to make the Leafs roster and make a contribution in the future.
Players are eligible for the list if they have not played more than 40 NHL games and are 25 years old or younger. We have 40 prospects ranked, but there are a few that did not make the cut.
Honorable Mentions – Part 2
Ben King – RW (Manitoba – AHL)
A former fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, King spent five years in the WHL with Swift Current and Red Deer before graduating to the American Hockey League and playing in San Diego in 2024 and Manitoba last season, where he scored 12 goals in 64 games.
Nick Rheaume – LW (Northeastern – NCAA)
The son of former NHLer Pascal and the nephew of Manon Rheaume, the 6’3”, 194 lb. winger did not put up great numbers in two years at UMass-Lowell and another season at Northeastern, but perhaps the Leafs are gambling on good bloodlines.
Marko Sikic – RW (Cincinnati– ECHL, Toronto – AHL)
Sikic was a late bloomer who struggled through two OHL seasons with Guelph before being traded to Sarnia in January 2022. In 2 ½ seasons with the Sting, the 6’3”, 183 lb. forward’s offensive numbers increased each season, culminating with a 57-point campaign in 2024 and brief pro stints in the ECHL. In his first full pro season with Cincinnati, the Kitchener, ON native had 18 points in 64 games.
