Hockeys Future: Maple Leafs Top 20 Prospects, Fall

[Alex Tran]

It has been a long time since the Toronto Maple Leaf organization boasted as many legitimate prospects as they do right now. While they still aren't a talent-producing haven with multiple blue chippers, the Leafs are beginning the transition back to player development.

The Toronto war room has done a decent job over the past five years, culling the late rounds and finding legitimate NHL talent. Combine that with earlier picks thanks to finishing low in the standings, and the formula for building from within is there.

This top 20 list is composed of five picks from the 2008 draft, four from 2007, five from the impressive 2006 stable, two choices from the 2005 draft, and three choices from 2004. Mikhail Grabovski was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens this summer and slides in behind the undisputed top six players after being ranked No. 8 on the Canadiens list.

It is rare that the organization will declare a full rebuild. But that is exactly what they have done in the past eight months. There are no veteran stopgaps. No dreams of fighting and clawing for the division title. This is the time for the youth to step up in hockey-mad Hog Town. While many of the Top 20 prospects will take to the ice this fall with higher than usual expectations, how will they leave this list?

Barring injury, Jiri Tlusty, Nik Kulemin, Anton Stralman, Grabovski and possibly Robbie Earl will all graduate from this list in spring 2009, but only time will tell if they will do so on their way to NHL stardom.

Top 20 at a glance

1. (NR) Luke Schenn, D, 18
2. (2) Nikolai Kulemin, RW, 22
3. (3) Jiri Tlusty, LW, 20
4. (1) Justin Pogge, G, 22
5. (4) Anton Stralman, D, 22
6. (5) Dmitri Vorobiev, D, 22
7. (NR) Mikhail Grabovski, C, 24
8. (NR) Mikhail Stefanovich, C, 18
9. (NR) Jimmy Hayes, RW, 18
10. (6) Robbie Earl, LW, 23
11. (7) Tyler Ruegsegger, C, 20
12. (11) Chris Didomenico, C, 19
13. (13) Chad Rau, C, 21
14. (8) Dale Mitchell, RW, 19
15. (9) James Reimer, G, 20
16. (12) Ben Winnett, LW, 19
17. (10) Matt Frattin, LW, 20
18. (NR) Joel Champagne, C, 18
19. (19) Viktor Stalberg, LW, 22
20. (NR) Jerome Flaake LW, 18

www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/10523/maple_leafs_top20_prospects_fall2008/

[jmac96]

wow im actually quite happy with our top 6 prospects , if only we had one more blue chipper 2009 draft anyone?

[CarltonTheBear]

Sept 10, 2008 0:15:41 GMT -5 jmac96 said:

wow im actually quite happy with our top 6 prospects , if only we had one more blue chipper 2009 draft anyone?

The biggest problem with the top 6 is Vorobiev doesn't appear to want to play in North America.

[Lee Denault]

Sept 10, 2008 0:20:02 GMT -5 CarltonTheBear said:

Sept 10, 2008 0:15:41 GMT -5 jmac96 said:

wow im actually quite happy with our top 6 prospects , if only we had one more blue chipper 2009 draft anyone?

The biggest problem with the top 6 is Vorobiev doesn't appear to want to play in North America.

Yeah I have decided not to acknowledge Dmitri.

In my opinion he isn't one of the Leafs' prospects.

[jmac96]

Ya same with me, I really wish he'd come over but i dont see it happenin anytime soon.

[Alex Tran]

It's a pretty decent farm system when your top 8 prospects are all 8.0's.

[hockeyguru]

Sept 10, 2008 15:41:55 GMT -5 Alex Tran said:

It's a pretty decent farm system when your top 8 prospects are all 8.0's.

Yeah, I was looking on hockeyfutures the other day and I was comparing the Leafs prospects to other teams and we don't have it too bad.

[Alex Tran]

I can only think of a handful of teams that have better farm systems:

- Los Angeles Kings
- St. Louis Blues
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Nashville Predators (maybe)
- New York Islanders (maybe in terms of depth)

[reether]

For some reason, I have a feeling that we will be hearing more of Jerome Flaake this year and that he will be higher on that list next year.

[weirdoh]

I was pretty happy with this years draft. I was sitting here just waiting and itching when teams kept passing up on Stefonivich and was excited when they grabbed him. I think Hayes will be good too, not star good, but a big guy, with feet...nothing wrong with that.