herman
Well-known member
What is the psychology behind this
Ranking Prospects 2026-27
- Thread starter herman
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Bender
Well-known member
What do you mean?
herman
Well-known member
PPP: 17. William Villeneuve
This is his final year of eligibility for this list, and no longer waiver exempt, so it's make or break on all levels for Villeneuve to show he has the chops to lock down routine minutes in the NHL. Given that he didn't even play top dog minutes for the Marlies, I'd say the ship has basically sailed. Without the skating and without any real standout skill/tool that might carve out a specialist position, I think he passes through waivers with relative ease. He's kind of only still there by virtue of being a righty that will at least try to make a play with the puck.
TLN/DFO:
6. Ethan MacKenzie
The Leafs scouting staff must've got some good looks at MacKenzie while they were monitoring Holinka's progress on the Oil Kings because they made a nice pick this past June to make sure the twice overager didn't get past them. There's a Jake McCabe-y vibe to his game, possibly with better wheels, albeit not close to McCabe's full strength. Defense with suffocating gap control is his calling card, but he can definitely keep plays going for higher offensive lines at the other end of the ice as well.
This is his final year of eligibility for this list, and no longer waiver exempt, so it's make or break on all levels for Villeneuve to show he has the chops to lock down routine minutes in the NHL. Given that he didn't even play top dog minutes for the Marlies, I'd say the ship has basically sailed. Without the skating and without any real standout skill/tool that might carve out a specialist position, I think he passes through waivers with relative ease. He's kind of only still there by virtue of being a righty that will at least try to make a play with the puck.
TLN/DFO:
6. Ethan MacKenzie
The Leafs scouting staff must've got some good looks at MacKenzie while they were monitoring Holinka's progress on the Oil Kings because they made a nice pick this past June to make sure the twice overager didn't get past them. There's a Jake McCabe-y vibe to his game, possibly with better wheels, albeit not close to McCabe's full strength. Defense with suffocating gap control is his calling card, but he can definitely keep plays going for higher offensive lines at the other end of the ice as well.
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herman
Well-known member
PPP: 16. Harry Nansi
I like that the article holds up Koblar as an in-system comparable to Nansi's potential path: tall C/W with two-way power games, but need to fill out frames and strength, and in Nansi's case skating. He's not up to Koblar's level at this time (and TLK is trending up quickly) but the tools are in the kit; might have something to do with the team he played on being doo-doo.
5. Alexander Bilecki
Bilecki was picked ahead of MacKenzie using draft capital from the Laughton trade to LA. Bilecki is a Memorial Cup winner with the Kitchener Rangers (along with former Leafs pick Matthew Hlacar) and is touted as a mobile puck moving LD.
McKeen's:
Not quite as polished as the older MacKenzie who was drafted 9 picks after, it's clear the Leafs consider his ceiling to be higher, and might answer the question: what if Morgan Rielly was taught how to play defense in Junior?
Fun note: Sam O'Reilly (TBL pick traded to EDM) also won the Memorial Cup this year, after winning in the previous season with the Knights/Cowan.
I like that the article holds up Koblar as an in-system comparable to Nansi's potential path: tall C/W with two-way power games, but need to fill out frames and strength, and in Nansi's case skating. He's not up to Koblar's level at this time (and TLK is trending up quickly) but the tools are in the kit; might have something to do with the team he played on being doo-doo.
5. Alexander Bilecki
Bilecki was picked ahead of MacKenzie using draft capital from the Laughton trade to LA. Bilecki is a Memorial Cup winner with the Kitchener Rangers (along with former Leafs pick Matthew Hlacar) and is touted as a mobile puck moving LD.
McKeen's:
Not quite as polished as the older MacKenzie who was drafted 9 picks after, it's clear the Leafs consider his ceiling to be higher, and might answer the question: what if Morgan Rielly was taught how to play defense in Junior?
Fun note: Sam O'Reilly (TBL pick traded to EDM) also won the Memorial Cup this year, after winning in the previous season with the Knights/Cowan.
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herman
Well-known member
PPP: 15. Victor Johansson
Getting into the gooder stuff now. I do hope it works out for Johansson with the Leafs, even though it was a very long shot to begin with. He's going to get reps as a very junior member of a mens team.
TLN/DFO: 4. Tinus Luc Koblar
I like him and I am pretty certain he's going to make it to the Leafs in the very near future. Would not surprise me if they gave him the Minten treatment even with the glut of forward bodies the Leafs currently have leading up to preseason. Also wouldn't surprise me if they ship him right back to Rogle after his two games.
3. Ben Danford
I wouldn't characterize him as particularly cerebral, but he plays smart defense fueled by very quick feet and a healthy attitude of spite. Danford relishes in ruining offensive chances against. I think it's a pretty big vote of confidence that the Leafs airdropped him into the Marlies mid-playoff drive and the coaching staff elected to keep him in there completely cold to the team structure and system, and he basically handled it, and started layering on more offensive looks.
Getting into the gooder stuff now. I do hope it works out for Johansson with the Leafs, even though it was a very long shot to begin with. He's going to get reps as a very junior member of a mens team.
TLN/DFO: 4. Tinus Luc Koblar
I like him and I am pretty certain he's going to make it to the Leafs in the very near future. Would not surprise me if they gave him the Minten treatment even with the glut of forward bodies the Leafs currently have leading up to preseason. Also wouldn't surprise me if they ship him right back to Rogle after his two games.
3. Ben Danford
I wouldn't characterize him as particularly cerebral, but he plays smart defense fueled by very quick feet and a healthy attitude of spite. Danford relishes in ruining offensive chances against. I think it's a pretty big vote of confidence that the Leafs airdropped him into the Marlies mid-playoff drive and the coaching staff elected to keep him in there completely cold to the team structure and system, and he basically handled it, and started layering on more offensive looks.
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Guilt Trip
Well-known member
I enjoyed watching him in the playoffs. Not mistake free but was very good so much so that he had a regular spot killing penalties. Moves the puck well and has great feet. Very good skater. I think he's the real deal and if he can continue his progression, he will be a full time NHLer.
herman
Well-known member
PPP: 14. Måns Gudmundsson
If I had a nickel every time the Leafs draft the middle round RD from Europe I wanted randomly I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but weird that it happened twice. Hopefully this one turns out more positively than the last one (bye Topi).
Big, two-way capable RD with good to above average mobility that was one of the younger prospects in the 2026 draft means he's starting from a very good platform to build on. He's going to get SHL time (his team has no other options at RD right now) and hopefully those reps get put to good use.
TLN/DFO: 2. Artur Akhtyamov
I already jotted this down in the OP ranking summary because I can do process of elimination. He's basically the only goalie of note left south of the NHL and our NHL ones are both categorized as rickety (Old + Prone). He literally stole the job from Hildeby (who I liked) so badly that the front office pawned Dennis off to a division rival.; one could argue his emergence also was the death knell for Woll's tenure with the Leafs. Akhtyamov has everything you'd want in a goalie: ice in his veins, very short memory for tough breaks, long of limb, positionally steady, but also crazy athletic on reactions.
If I had a nickel every time the Leafs draft the middle round RD from Europe I wanted randomly I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but weird that it happened twice. Hopefully this one turns out more positively than the last one (bye Topi).
Big, two-way capable RD with good to above average mobility that was one of the younger prospects in the 2026 draft means he's starting from a very good platform to build on. He's going to get SHL time (his team has no other options at RD right now) and hopefully those reps get put to good use.
TLN/DFO: 2. Artur Akhtyamov
I already jotted this down in the OP ranking summary because I can do process of elimination. He's basically the only goalie of note left south of the NHL and our NHL ones are both categorized as rickety (Old + Prone). He literally stole the job from Hildeby (who I liked) so badly that the front office pawned Dennis off to a division rival.; one could argue his emergence also was the death knell for Woll's tenure with the Leafs. Akhtyamov has everything you'd want in a goalie: ice in his veins, very short memory for tough breaks, long of limb, positionally steady, but also crazy athletic on reactions.
Bender
Well-known member
And Russian. For whatever reason I like that in goalies
herman
Well-known member
PPP: 13. Luke Haymes
I'm a little bit surprised he's this high, being undrafted and used in a tertiary capacity with the Marlies. As noted in the article, he got comfortable after the New Year and his production took a very solid uptick. I don't think he sticks at centre if he ever makes the jump to the NHL; his speed and forechecking is a standout that would hold him in good stead in the bottom-6 deployment he's most likely to get and could probably be a drop-in replacement for Lorentz with a month of seasoning (smaller, but hungrier). Kind of another Steeves or Quillan.
TLN/DFO: 1. Gavin McKenna
Duh. Not much more to say until we see McKenna hit the ice in the prospect tournament and camp/preseason.
I'm a little bit surprised he's this high, being undrafted and used in a tertiary capacity with the Marlies. As noted in the article, he got comfortable after the New Year and his production took a very solid uptick. I don't think he sticks at centre if he ever makes the jump to the NHL; his speed and forechecking is a standout that would hold him in good stead in the bottom-6 deployment he's most likely to get and could probably be a drop-in replacement for Lorentz with a month of seasoning (smaller, but hungrier). Kind of another Steeves or Quillan.
TLN/DFO: 1. Gavin McKenna
Duh. Not much more to say until we see McKenna hit the ice in the prospect tournament and camp/preseason.
herman
Well-known member
Oh hey, he will be playing in the Q this year. Probably at the prospect tournament too?
herman
Well-known member
Måns Gudmundsson is playing for Sweden in the U20 Five Nations tournament. He racked up 1G and 3A (including the game opening and winner) en route to a 5-0 win yesterday.
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