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:
Prospect List
#40 – Matthew Hlacar – F (Kitchener – OHL)
#39 – Rylan Fellinger – D (Flint – OHL)
#38 – Blake Smith – D (Flint – OHL, Toronto – AHL)
#37 – Braeden Kressler – C (Cincinnati – ECHL, Toronto – AHL)
#36 – Harry Nansi – C (Owen Sound – OHL)
#35 – Landon Sim – RW (London – OHL)
#34 – John Prokop – D (Union College – NCAA, Toronto – AHL)
#33 – Seymon Kizimov – RW (Yekaterinburg Automobilist – KHL, Uchaly Gornyak – VHL)
#32 – Matthew Barbolini – F (Toronto – AHL)
#31 – John Fusco – D (Dartmouth – NCAA)
#30 – Semyon Der-Argushintsev – C (Chelyabinsk Traktor – KHL)
#29 – Will Belle – RW (US Nat’l Development Program)
The Maple Leafs philosophy has changed markedly in the Treliving era. While there are some exceptions to the rule, the approach – especially later in the draft – appears to be “when in doubt, go big.” In the 2025 Draft class, all but one of the picks was 6’3” or taller, including fifth-rounder William Belle.
The Excelsior, MN native is a product of the US National Development Program, who is an impressive physical specimen at 6’3”, 219 lbs., but someone who is a work in progress in other aspects of his game. The 18-year-old winger had 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 28 games and compiled 116 penalty minutes at various levels last season.
Elite Prospects Draft Guide describes Belle “as a powerful winger with a strong motor. A hard-hitting forechecker who launches himself into opponents, forcing steals and pushing the breakout back. He’s also a determined defensive player.”
Belle did not take part in Team USA’s camp for the World Junior in Minnesota earlier this month, and will be playing for the University of Notre Dame next season.
