2016 NHL Mock Draft: Picks #11-20

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my 2016 NHL Mock Draft. In my last segment of this three part series, I went over picks #1-10 that saw Auston Matthews don a Leafs jersey and the Fantastic Finns in Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine go to Edmonton and Winnipeg respectively. In this piece, we'll take a look at picks #11-20 as per the request of my good friend Jacob Du. Again, this is not my opinion on who finishes where, this is based off of the current standings. Without further ado, let's take a look at the next group of young talent.

11. Ottawa Senators - Michael McLeod (C, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL)

The Senators owned two first round picks in the 2015 NHL Draft last year, which they used to select strong two way defenseman Thomas Chabot and big two way forward Colin White respectively, so bringing in Mike McLeod would be a great addition to their forward pool. McLeod is currently producing at a steady pace with 61 points in 57 games and he's possibly one of the fastest skaters in this draft class. He would be a good pickup for the Sens should he be availible when they make their pick.

12. Carolina Hurricanes - Clayton Keller (C, USNTDP, USHL)

The Hurricanes used their last two first rounders to take some big names defensively in Haydn Fleury and Noah Hanifin, so given the fact that they had trouble scoring this year, it would be wise of them to take a smaller, skilled forward, and that's exactly what they would be getting in Keller. He currently has 85 points in 51 games for the U.S National U18 team, and is committed to Boston University in 2016-17.

13. Minnesota Wild - Dante Fabbro (D, Pentitcton Vees, BCHL)

Fabbro is an exceptional player and has impressed many scouts during his tenure with Penticton this season. He's a strong two way defenseman, but has a big shot and currently has 67 points in 45 games for the Vees. The Wild used their last two first rounders on forwards Alex Tuch and Joel Eriksson Ek respectively, so they would be wise to take Fabbro if he's on the board when they are on the clock.

14. Colorado Avalanche - Jake Bean (D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL)

Bean has been an exceptional player for the Calgary Hitmen this season, putting up amazing offensive totals with 64 points in 68 games. It's no secret that the Avalanche desperately need defensive depth on the blue line, so they would be wise to grab Bean if he's on the board. He would slot in nicely in the future alongside of an Erik Johnson or a Tyson Barrie.

15. Philadelphia Flyers - Riley Tufte (LW, Fargo Force, USHL)

Tufte has split time this year between Blaine High of the USHS, where he's team captain and has an outstanding total of 78 points in 25 games, and the Fargo Force of the USHL where he currently has 8 points in 20 games. Tufte would fit in perfectly to the Flyers' system as he's a big power forward who can score goals and provide offense for a team that already has a stacked defensive core.

16. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Pittsburgh Penguins) - Charlie McAvoy (D, Boston University, NCAA)

If my wishes come true and the Leafs win the draft lottery to select Auston Matthews this season, then they would be wise to draft a defenseman with their second pick. In this case, they would have one who would fit in perfectly into Mike Babcock's system. He currently has 24 points in 36 games for Boston U, similar to Noah Hanifin's totals at Boston College last season, and he's right handed, which is something the Leafs desperately need.

17. Detroit Red Wings - Max Jones (LW, London Knights, OHL)

Knowing the Red Wings, no matter who they select in any draft, they will never get a bad player. Though if they take Jones, they'll be getting a good player anyway. He's a big power forward who drives the net and has a knack for scoring goals. He would fit nicely alongside of a Dylan Larkin in the future should the Red Wings take him.

18. Nashville Predators - Tyson Jost (C, Penticton Vees, BCHL)

Like fellow Penticton teammate Dante Fabbro, Tyson Jost is also dominating the BCHL. And when I say dominating, I mean he's absolutely killing it. He currently has a whopping total of 104 points in 48 games, and considering the Predators already have an insanely stacked defensive pool, Jost would provide them with some very solid offense up front. The St.Albert native is committed to the University of North Dakota for 2016-17.

19. New York Islanders - German Rubtsov (C, Team Russia U18, MHL)

Rubtsov is an interesting prospect in the sense that he doesn't garner a lot of scouting reports because of his location. He's currently playing in the MHL, the Junior league of the KHL, and to this day has 26 points in 28 games for Team Russia. Should the Islanders take Rubtsov with their first rounder, he will not disappoint and could become a solid top six forward for the Isles.

20. Boston Bruins - Kieffer Bellows (C, USNTDP, USHL)

Bellows, like Clayton Keller, is producing steadily in the USNTDP. He currently has 31 points in 21 games for the Junior team and 68 points in 51 games for the National U18 team. The Bruins have a steady defensive prospect pool to this day, so they could very well go with the skilled forward in Bellows this year.

2016 NHL Mock Draft: Picks #1-10

By Alex Hobson

Almost every Leafs fan across the globe knew that there weren't any expectations heading
into this season, so with a Detroit Red Wings win over the Florida Panthers on saturday night, the Leafs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, crushing the hopes of the few fans that believed there was still a chance. Now, Leafs fans are itching for the season to be finished so that they can hurry up and get to the draft lottery to find out where they'll be picking. A special friend of mine by the name of Jacob Du suggested that I write up a three part mock draft based off the current NHL standings. Today, we'll go over picks 1-10. Let's take a look

1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews (C, ZSC Lions, NLA)

The Leafs currently sit in last place in the NHL standings and hold the highest chance at getting the first overall pick, so this selection isn't overly unrealistic. If the Leafs do win the Matthews sweepstakes, no Leafs fan will be disappointed with this pick. Matthews was born two days before the 2015 draft cutoff date, making him uneligible for the draft that year, but if he was a few days older he would have been ranked third overall behind just Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, which really says something about his game. Big offensive centre and according to current coach Marc Crawford, is a "player you build a franchise around"

2. Winnipeg Jets - Patrik Laine (RW, Tappara, SM-Liiga)

The Jets disappointed this year after making the playoffs last season, but given that they already have a prospect pool consisting of talent such as Kyle Connor, Josh Morrisey, Jack Roslovic, Jansen Harkins, and Nic Petan among others, adding Laine would make them just downright scary. An ideal combination of size and skill, Laine is a very flashy player that oozes offensive talent. A big part in Team Finland's victory at the 2016 World Juniors with 13 points in 7 games as a 17 year old.

3. Edmonton Oilers - Jesse Puljujarvi (RW, Karpat, SM-Liiga)

After Matthews goes off the board, it's a complete wildcard on who goes second whether it's Laine or Puljujarvi, as they're very similar players. The reason I have Laine going second is because he's slightly flashier and Winnipeg tends to take flashy players, while Puljujarvi is more of an all around offensive, defensive, and physical player. It doesn't matter whether the Oilers get one Fin or the other, but they won't be disappointed if the Alvkarleby native slips to third. A future first line of Taylor Hall, Connor McDavid, and Jesse Puljujarvi is enough to make any Oilers fan drool.

4. Vancouver Canucks - Matthew Tkachuk (LW, London Knights, OHL)

The top three picks in this draft are essentially set in stone, but whoever picks fourth won't be disappointed. Tkachuk would be a big name to add to a future young forward pool. After making the transition from the USNTDP to the OHL, Tkachuk has filled in a vital role as a member of the Knights, as he finished the season with 107 points in 57 games for the club. He's a likely option to go fourth overall after Matthews and the Finns are off the board.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets - Jakob Chychrun (D, Sarnia Sting, OHL)

Chychrun was originally a top three ranked prospect heading into the 2015-16 hockey season, but slipped a little bit after outstanding performances from Puljujarvi and Laine at the World Juniors. The Jackets have some very exciting prospects at forward, such as Oliver Bjorkstrand, Sonny Milano, and Paul Bittner among others, so adding Chychrun would boulster their defensive pool. A future D core of Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, Zach Werenski, and Jakob Chychrun? Yes please.

6. Calgary Flames - Alexander Nylander (RW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL)

At the start of the year, Alexander Nylander was simply known as the brother of top Leafs prospect William Nylander who had a chance to go in the second round of the upcoming draft. After a stellar performance at the 2016 World Juniors and campaign of 75 points in 57 games for the Steelheads in his first OHL year, he's climbed up the rankings and is now a likely candidate to go in the top seven of the 2016 NHL Draft. He would fit in nicely alongside of a Sam Bennett or a Sean Monahan in the future.

7. Buffalo Sabres - Olli Juolevi (D, London Knights, OHL)

The Sabres young offensive talent is being showcased nicely this year, with a pair of second overall picks in Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel leading the charge. They have a couple of solid young defensemen in Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, and Mark Pysyk, so adding Juolevi, who's having a strong season for the London Knights, to that mix would be a huge boost for the future of this young team.

8. Arizona Coyotes - Mikhail Sergachev (D, Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

I don't belive in drafting for positional needs, but the Coyotes already have a stacked forward pool consisting of players such as Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Christian Dvorak, Dylan Strome, Brendan Perlini, and Conor Garland, while on defense they have next to nobody. It's not like they'd be going far off the board to grab him, either. He's projected to go in between 8-12th overall and would be a very solid pickup for the Yotes' blueline. The big-bodied Russian has 56 points in 66 games for the Spits this season.

9. Montreal Canadiens - Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, QMJHL)

This pick sees the Habs picking a French Canadian out of the QMJHL. Pretty typical, no? Nonetheless, the Habs would be getting a great player in Dubois, he currently has 99 points in 62 games while playing a strict all-around game for the Screaming Eagles. He has a strong combination of skill and size, and would give the Canadiens the scoring touch they need.

10. New Jersey Devils - Julien Gauthier (LW, Val D'or Foreurs, QMJHL)

The second French Canadian to go in this draft, Gauthier is a prime two way forward that possesses a big body and a strong shot to go with it. He turned heads at the World Juniors as an underage prospect and he could very well be a top ten pick in the draft due to his good combination of skill and size.

Post-Trade Deadline Maple Leafs Prospect Update

By Alex Hobson

After an eventful firesale leading up to the trade deadline but a quiet deadline day for the Maple Leafs, I figured it's time we check up on our revamped prospect pool and how these promising prospects are performing in the minors. Let's kick things off with the OHL.

OHL



Jeremy Bracco, RW, Kitchener Rangers, (2nd round, 61st overall in 2015)

Bracco is having a solid campaign in his first OHL season. After making the decision to leave Boston College to join the Rangers at the start of the season, the Long Island native responded nicely in the OHL and to this day has 61 points in 47 games.

Travis Dermott, D, Erie Otters, (2nd round, 34th overall in 2015)

Dermott was projected to go late second/third round in the 2015 draft, so many fans were surprised when the Leafs snagged him at 34th overall when talent such as Oliver Kylington, Daniel Sprong, and Jansen Harkins were still availible. That being said, Dermott has not disappointed and currently has 39 points in 48 games for the Otters.

Stephen Desrocher, D, Kingston Frontenacs, (6th round, 155th overall in 2015)

After going with skilled players for the majority of the draft, the Leafs took a towering defensive defenseman with the 155th overall pick. After being traded from the Oshawa Generals to the Frontenacs mid season, the Toronto native has registered a combined total of 46 points in 67 games, good totals for his style of play.

Mitch Marner, C/RW, London Knights, (1st round, 4th overall in 2015)

Marner is currently producing at an outstanding pace for the Knights, but does that really surprise anyone? He currently has 111 points in 54 games on a stacked Knights squad that features the likes of Christian Dvorak, Matthew Tkachuk, Max Jones, and Olli Juolevi along with Marner. He has the skill of an NHL player, but needs to put on weight. Fellow prospect William Nylander put on 20 pounds of weight last summer and is now in the NHL, so there's no reason Marner can't do the same.

Nikita Korostelev, RW, Sarnia Sting, (7th round, 185th overall in 2015)

Korostelev has been somewhat of a disappointment for the Sting this season, but he's still producing good totals. After putting up 53 points in 55 games for the Sting last season, the Moscow native was expected to go in the third round but somehow slipped to the seventh, and the Leafs didn't hesitate to pick him up. This season, he only has 37 points in 49 games, but it's still possible he picks up his pace and matches his previous total.

J.J. Piccinich, RW, London Knights (4th round, 103rd overall in 2014)

Pinninich has been a very pleasant surprise for the Maple Leafs this season. After struggling in his post draft year at Boston University, recording only 4 points in 25 games, he made the decision to leave Boston U and join the Knights alongside fellow teammate Mitch Marner. He currently has 63 points in 63 games for the Knights and has filled in a solid role for them. It's very possible we see Piccinich in a Marlies jersey next season.

WHL



Andrew Nielsen, D, Lethbridge Hurricanes (3rd round, 74th overall in 2015)

Nielsen has been arguably the biggest surprise around the Leafs prospect pool this season. After putting up 24 points in 59 games as a defensive, physical defenseman in his draft year, the Red Deer native has exploded for 68 points in 68 games as a member of the Hurricanes. He's proved doubters wrong and shown them he has an offensive side to his game this season.

QMJHL



Martins Dzierkals, LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (3rd round, 78th overall in 2015)

When Mark Hunter stepped to the board and announced Dzierkals' name in the third round, nobody knew who he was. He was a young Latvian forward playing in the MHL, the junior league of the KHL. He decided to move to Canada to play for the Huskies in the QMJHL where scouts could get a better look at him, and he currently has 66 points in 56 games. He also plays a gritty game, so the Leafs could have found themselves another gem in this one.

Dmytro Timashov, LW, Shawinigan Cataractes (5th round, 125th overall in 2015)

Timashov is arguably the Leafs biggest steal in the draft this season. After slipping to the 5th round for the Leafs to take him, he's put up 62 assists and 83 points in 56 games splitting time between the Cataractes and the Quebec Remparts. He has insane passing ability and could be one of the most skilled players in the Q.

AHL



Antoine Bibeau, G (6th round, 172nd overall in 2013)

With Garret Sparks dominating the net to start off the season, Bibeau had a shaky start to the season. That being said, he's boulstered his game as of late and currently holds a 21-7-1 record with a 2.87 GAA and a .910 save percentage. The Leafs recently dealt James Reimer to the Sharks and Sparks earned a callup, so expect Bibeau to get a look on the Maple Leafs soon enough.

Connor Brown, RW (6th round, 156th overall in 2012)

Brown suffered a foot injury at the start of the season which at the time was a huge blow to the Marlies. Since returning from injury, Brown has registered 24 points in 27 games. If any injuries occur to forwards on the Leafs team, Brown will likely be the next callup.

Sam Carrick, C (5th round, 144th overall in 2010)

The gritty forward was drafted for his physical and defensive game, and is currently having a solid season for the Marlies. The Stouffville native has put up 25 points in 43 games for the Baby Leafs while usually centering one of the bottom six lines.

Frederik Gauthier, C (1st round, 21st overall in 2013)

Gauthier had a solid season for the Rimouski Oceanic last season, helping them to a Memorial Cup appearance, and could be on his way to another cup run this season with the Marlies. Usually centering the third line for the Marlies, he's being utilized for his defensive game and currently has 16 points in 51 games.

Scott Harrington, D (Acquired via trade with Pittsburgh)

Harrington started off the season with the Maple Leafs after an impressive training camp, and has since been reassigned to the Marlies for grooming. He currently has only 3 points in 17 games after missing a large chunk of the season due to injury, so expect him to improve his game when he returns.

Kasperi Kapanen, LW (Acquired via trade with Pittsburgh)

Kapanen was the key piece in the return of the trade that saw goal scorer Phil Kessel sent to the Penguins. He's currently having a solid AHL campaign with 24 points in 35 games for the Baby Leafs. The Kuopio native earned himself a brief stint with the Maple Leafs but was reassigned after 4 games.

Brendan Leipsic, RW (Acquired via trade with Nashville)

Leipsic is having a solid season in the AHL for the Marlies with 42 points in 53 games. He's spent 6 games in the NHL with the Leafs, recording 3 points including his first NHL goal. He's making a strong case for himself to remain a Leaf heading into next season.

Josh Leivo, LW (3rd round, 86th overall in 2011)

Leivo has struggled with inconsistency in the pros since being drafted, but it seems this season is his year. He has 40 points in 44 games in the AHL and in his recent callup, he recorded 4 goals in 5 games with the Leafs. He possesses a strong shot and will more than likely be a Leaf next season.

Tobias Lindberg, LW (Acquired via trade with Ottawa)

Lindberg was a very valuable player for the Generals during their Memorial Cup run last year, and has gotten off to a strong start with the Marlies since being acquired in the Dion Phaneuf trade, with 7 points in 13 games. He has a good combination of size and skill to his game, something many GM's drool over.

Stuart Percy, D, (1st round, 25th overall in 2015)

Percy is one of those defenseman that is solid in every aspect of his game, but isn't flashy. He currently has 21 points in 49 games for the Marlies and next season could very well ensure himself a spot on the NHL roster.

Colin Smith, C (Acquired via trade with Colorado)

The Leafs got a pretty good return in Smith in the trade that sent Shawn Matthias to the Avalanche. Smith currently has 10 points in his first 9 games with the Marlies and could prove to be a valuable player for the Maple Leafs and the Marlies in the future.

NCAA



Tony Cameranesi, C, University of Minnesota-Duluth (5th round, 130th overall in 2011)

Cameranesi has been a very solid addition to the Maple Leafs prospect pool since being drafted. He currently has 35 points in 35 games for UMD, but has yet to been offered an ELC. If he's given one this season, expect him

Dakota Joshua, C, Ohio State University (5th round, 128th overall in 2014)

Joshua played a key role in the Sioux Falls Stampede's cup run last season and is adjusting well to the NCAA. He currently has 17 points in 27 games for OSU.

Nolan Vesey, RW, University of Maine (6th round, 158th overall in 2014)

After a dreadful start to the season, Vesey has somewhat picked up his game and recorded 11 points in 26 games for UM. He isn't producing like he did last season, but is still having a solid run.

Dominic Toninato, C, University of Minnesota-Duluth (5th round, 126th overall in 2012)

Toninato is playing a key role alongside of fellow Leafs prospect Tony Cameranesi this season, recording 19 points in 36 games. Not producing quite like Cameranesi, but still having a good season.

EUROPE



Pierre Engvall, LW, Mora IK, SHL (7th round, 188th overall in 2014)

Engvall is having a solid season for Mora this season with 12 goals and 12 assists, good for 24 points in 50 games for the team. He will likely return there next season if the Leafs do not offer him an entry level contract this summer.

Fabrice Herzog, LW, ZSC Lions, National League A (5th round, 142nd overall in 2013)

Herzog is producing far better than he did last season for the Swiss pro team. Playing alongside of projected 2016 first overall pick Auston Matthews, he's produced 22 points in 34 games for the Lions. It's unknown whether or not the Leafs will offer him an entry level contract when the time comes.

Andreas Johnson, LW, Frolunda HC, SHL (7th round 202nd overall in 2013)

Johnson is what I like to call a Detroit Red Wings style pick. A skilled European taken in the late rounds of the draft. Johnson currently has 44 points in 52 games for Frolunda this season and could potentially play for the Marlies next season. The Leafs may have found a gem in this guy.

Jesper Lindgren, D, MODO HC, SHL (4th round, 95th overall in 2015)

Lindgren was deemed not ready for the SHL this season, after only recording 3 points in 26 games. He's having a good campaign in the J20 league, however, with 14 points in 20 games.

NHL



Connor Carrick, D (Acquired via trade with Washington)

In the hefty return the Leafs got that sent Daniel Winnik to Washington, Carrick has been a solid player for the Maple Leafs since his arrival. He's impressed head coach Mike Babcock with his gritty play, despite standing at only 5'11 and 185lb. He currently has 2 assists in 6 games with the Maple Leafs.

Zach Hyman, C/RW (Acquired via trade with Florida)

Hyman has quickly become a favourite of head coach Mike Babcock since his callup. He's a gritty player who isn't afraid to throw the body and can score too. He currently has 2 goals in 6 games and according to the Leafs' coaching staff, he's here to stay this season.

Nikita Soshnikov, LW/RW (Signed as Free Agent in 2015)

Soshnikov has quickly become a fan favourite of the Maple Leafs since being recalled, and he's only played 6 games. Known for his excessive celebrations, his ability to get under the skin of opponents, and his rocket of a wrist shot, he's fit in nicely on the top line alongside of Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov. He currently has 2 goals and 3 points in 6 games.

William Nylander, C/RW (1st round, 8th overall in 2014)

Arguably the most highly touted call up this season, Nylander has shown strong ability to possess the puck and carry it away from opponents. He currently has 45 points in 37 games with the Marlies this season and 2 points in 6 games with the Maple Leafs. He's likely a shoo-in to make the Leafs full time next year.

3 Most Underrated Leafs Prospects

By Alex Hobson

Everybody is aware of the job Mark Hunter has done with the Maple Leafs' prospect pool since being hired prior to the 2014-15 NHL season. Before the 2015 NHL Draft, the Leafs easily had one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL. They had William Nylander occupying the top spot, with Connor Brown, Andreas Johnson, and Frederik Gauthier following behind him. Nylander was a blue chip prospect, Brown and Johnson were good prospects, and Gauthier was decent. After that, they had essentially nothing. With the additions of Mitch Marner and Kasperi Kapanen among others this summer, they now have one of the best. I will now take a look at three of the Leafs' most underrated prospects in the system.

1. Nikita Soshnikov, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL (Undrafted Free Agent)



Soshnikov joined the Maple Leafs after being signed from the KHL by the club last March. There were other teams in the running to sign him, and when asked why he chose Toronto he said it was because they were rebuilding, he would have a better chance at making the roster. That wasn't the case right away, as Soshnikov couldn't join the Maple Leafs organization until the 2015-16 season and the Leafs didn't want to drop him into the NHL before giving him a taste of AHL action.

The Nizhny Tagil native has put up a respectable 18 goals and 28 points in 50 games for the Marlies this season, and recently earned himself a callup. He's been great since his NHL arrival, putting up 2 goals in 4 games so far and playing with an edge. "Shotnikov" has turned himself into one of head coach Mike Babcock's favourite players based on his gritty yet offensive play style. He has the grit of Leo Komarov and the shot of Nikita Kucherov, and could easily become an NHL regular with proper development.

2. Andreas Johnson, LW, Frolunda HC, SHL (7th round, 202nd overall in 2013)



I know, I know, Johnson wasn't the work of Mark Hunter. He was taken the season before Hunter was brought into the organization, but he is still nonetheless a great underrated prospect for the organization. He's one of the few prospects playing in Sweden right now, and he currently has a very respectable total of 42 points in 51 games for Frolunda HC. These are very good totals for a player his age playing in a men's league.

Since Johnson is playing in Europe, he has the option to join the Marlies whenever he wants. That being said, Leafs' management will be trusted to make the right decision. The SHL was becoming too simple for William Nylander last year as he was producing just under a point per game, so they brought him over to the Marlies and he benefitted from it. Johnson isn't quite producing at the rate of Nylander, so the Leafs will likely let him play out his final season in Frolunda before making the transition to North America. That being said, he could become a very effective top nine goal scorer for the Maple Leafs.

3. Andrew Nielsen, D, Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL (3rd round, 74th overall in 2015)



If there's any prospect who's surprised tons and turned heads this year, it's Andrew Nielsen. Not to say fans weren't happy or expecting much with this pick last year, but after producing 24 points in 59 games as a member of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, people assumed he was a stay at home defenseman who wasn't overly flashy.

This year, however, he's absolutely exploded. The Red Deer native is currently the top defenseman on a very good Hurricanes team and has 17 goals and 67 points in 65 games this season, which are very good totals for a defenseman in the CHL and a player of his style. He draws a lot of comparisons to Luke Schenn, a former Leafs 5th overall pick who was sent to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for James van Riemsdyk. Nielsen is a big, physical defensive defenseman who proved this year that he's good offensively as well, and if his development keeps up he could blossom into a top six, maybe even top four defenseman in the NHL.

Thanks for reading.

Youth Movement In Full Force For Maple Leafs

By Alex Hobson

If you watched the Maple Leafs face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, chances are you weren't disappointed. In the midst of a very slow deadline day, the Leafs made a big roster move, calling up prospects William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov, and Zach Hyman. Those players, alongside of new acquisitions Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick, and Ben Smith would all be making their Leaf, some NHL debuts.

Despite losing 2-1 to the Lightning, it's safe to say that nobody was disappointed with the performance of the Maple Leafs. The rookies ran the show, and head coach Mike Babcock showcased his trust in the youngsters by playing them more than any other forwards and having them back on the ice for the final minute of the game. Let's take a look at each prospect and the effort they made in this game.

WILLIAM NYLANDER 

   

Nylander was undoubtedly the most hyped up prospect entering the game. The 8th overall pick in 2014 was recording incredible numbers in the AHL for the Marlies, as he currently has a total of 45 points in 37 games. He was leading the AHL in scoring for a while but due to his injury that took place at the World Juniors, he was forced to sit for a while. He's still producing at an outstanding pace and many believed he was ready to play in the NHL this year, but was kept out because the Leafs wanted to let him play a full season in the AHL and hopefully win the Calder Cup. Nylander, centering the second line alongside of Michael Grabner and Zach Hyman, did not look out of place in his first game. Though he failed to record a point, he controlled the puck carefully and created many chances. It's safe to say he's a lock to make the team next season.

KASPERI KAPANEN

 
 

The main piece in the Phil Kessel trade heading back to the Maple Leafs, Kapanen was called the night before by assistant GM Kyle Dubas to let him know that he was going to make his debut, and Kapanen described it as an amazing feeling, and said it was probably the best night of his life. Wearing #37 for the Buds, Kapanen began the night playing alongside of Colin Greening and Peter Holland on the third line right wing, but eventually moved up to play alongside of Nylander and Hyman to start the third period. He had a nice dangle and almost put home his first NHL goal, but Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevsky got a hold of the puck and shut him down. That being said, he was arguably the best prospect out on the ice for the Buds, and played a solid two way game. Not many people deemed him to make the roster next season like they did with players like Nylander and 2015 4th overall pick Mitch Marner, but he's making a strong case for himself so far.

ZACH HYMAN

 
 

Hyman started off the game playing alongside of Nylander and Grabner on the right wing, and finished playing with Nylander and Kapanen rather than Grabner. Needless to say, he was always on a line with tons of skill. Not to say Hyman isn't skilled, but he played more of a power forward/gritty type game for the majority of the night. He had a pretty good chance toward the end of the game when he used his size to push the defender out of the way and drive the net with the puck, but again, Vasilevsky was rock solid and shut him down. Hyman looked far from out of place, however. He has the size to hold his own and not get knocked around by other players but also has a great shot and good hands. He could also find himself in a full time role on the Leafs next season if his development keeps up properly.

NIKITA SOSHNIKOV

   

The Nizhny Tagil native and unofficial recipient for best name, Soshnikov essentially has the same story as Hyman. He looked far from out of place and kept up with the speed of the NHL, compared to his previous stints with in the AHL and the KHL. Soshnikov is a crafty player and is a very strong skater and makes solid decisions with the puck. He earned his callup after being one of the top producers for the Marlies this season, with 18 goals and 28 points in 50 games. He played alongside of Peter Holland and Brad Boyes for the majority of the night, but found himself in key situations such as the penalty kill. He is another sleeper that could very well make the Maple Leafs full time next season.

Needless to say, the Leafs' youth movement is in full force, and is a real look into the future of this young team.