Organizational Depth Is Starting To Pay Dividends
With the first overall pick in the 1985 draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected a rugged left winger from the Saskatoon Blades named Wendel Clark. Clark would go on to play thirteen seasons for the blue and white, three as captain, all while adhering himself to the city as a true hockey hero.
Since Clark, Toronto has had little success with turning draft picks into top caliber NHL players. Coming out of the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships (WJC), that negative trend could be nearing its end. The Leafs boast a handful of young talented players who recently represented their countries on the world’s biggest junior hockey stage.
ICYMI: Dmytro Timashov and William Nylander are off to the WJCs: https://t.co/YSNsBLC4B4 And so is Kasperi Kapanen: https://t.co/Lncp6vN0cE
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 8, 2015
Draft picks such as team Canada’s Mitch Marner and team Sweden’s William Nylander have fans in Leaf land reminiscing over the Clark years. During the past two decades, young hockey prospects have used the World Junior tournament as a showcase for potential NHL suitors.
The WJC has pumped out an endless list of top flight hockey prospects that have gone on to become dominant NHL players. Some of the players that excelled both in the tournament and after are Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Jonathan Toews to name a select few.
With five total prospects competing in this year’s tournament the future looks bright in Canada’s Hockey Town.
Overshadowed most of the #WJC, Kasperi Kapanen finishes as its unlikely hero: https://t.co/PPvfBSIGD8 @GareJoyceNHL pic.twitter.com/sJzLn7c9An
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 6, 2016
Toronto’s front office leadership was banking on it’s new wave of talent to elevate their game and put on a show for the rest of the world to see, and they did not disappoint.
Now that the tournament is over, Leafs President Brenden Shannahan and General Manager Lou Lamoriello will have the chance to assess the performances of their five blue-chippers.
Below we beat them to the punch.
Kasperi Kapanen – Team Finland, F
Kasperi Kapanen was acquired by the Leafs last offseason from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Phil Kessel deal. Selected 22nd overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Kapanen has had high expectations placed on him by the Leafs fans. The young Finn has produced 10 points in 17 games for the Leafs AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies.
Kapanen registered two goals and three assists in seven games for Team Finland at this year’s tourney.
The highlight of the tournament for both Kapanen and Leaf fans will undoubtedly be his gold medal winning wrap around goal in overtime that lifted the Finns over the Russians in a closely contested final. The Final score was 4-3, and the Russians were absolutely crushed in the loss.
Kapanen is the son of Sami Kapanen, who was a forward at the NHL Level for 13 years. Over the course of his career he played 831 regular season games (and 87 playoff games) with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Travis Dermott – Team Canada, D
The 19-year-old defenseman from the OHL’s Erie Otters was selected 34th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by Toronto, and represented Canada for the first time internationally at the 2016 World Junior Championships.
Dermott who currently sits third in scoring among OHL defensemen had a decent offensive performance at this year WJC. He played in all five games for Team Canada registering two assists, and nine shots on goal while posting a minus two.
Dermott has a bright future as a skilled, puck moving defensemen; However, he will need to work on his play in his own end as sloppy outlet passing and poor decision making left him wanting more out of his first ever WJC.
Mitch Marner – Team Canada, F
The Leafs have a lot more than just a fourth overall pick invested in Marner. The OHL’s London Knights product brings a ton of skill and scoring ability to a center position that the Leafs have badly needed.
As for his WJC, Marner posted four goals to go along with two assists in five games played.
What is important to note about Marner’s performance is that three of his tallies came on the man advantage. To state that he looked comfortable with the puck and strong in the offensive zone would be an understatement.
If Marner can maintain this level of play, the next stop in his career will most likely be the blue and white of the Leafs, rather than the Marlies.
William Nylander – Team Sweden, F
The most praised of the Leafs prospects, and for good reason, the eighth overall pick from 2014 NHL Entry Draft entered the tournament leading the AHL in scoring with 34 points in 27 games for the Marlies.
Nylander scored in his first appearance in the 2015 WJC but had his tournament cut short after a hit to the head during team Sweden’s first game of the tournament against Switzerland. He suffered a concussion and was forced to leave the game; He did not return.
For precautionary reasons, he sat out the remainder of team Sweden’s games, but according to Mike Babcock and the Leafs, his health is not a concern going forward. He is expected to be back with the Marlies soon.
Dmytro Timashov – Team Sweden, F
The reigning Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Rookie of the Year winner has flown under most Leaf fans radar until now. Timashov came into the tournament fourth in the QMJHL, racking up 53 points in 29 games.
At the WJC Timashov turned in a strong performance of two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games to go along with a solid plus three.
Although he is the most underrated of the five Leafs prospects, he definitely brings the most intrigue to the table and his offensive potential currently seems endless. He is an explosive skater with top notch puck handling skills, who can create space with his speed and open up some dangerous scoring opporunities at high speeds for himself and his teammates.
Timashov was selected in the fifth round, 125th overall by the Leafs in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
