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The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander), but the focus of prospect development under former GM Kyle Dubas and the last few seasons under Director of Amateur Scouting Wes Clark seemed to be on skill players, while GM Brad Treliving has begun to transition with a focus on young players with size.
As we did last year, we will rank 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 contribute in the future.
Youngsters like Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll, Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and top-rated Matthew Knies have graduated, but here is a list of players eligible for the list who have not played more than 40 NHL games and are 25 years old or younger:
#40 - Wyatt Schingoethe – C (Western Michigan – NCAA)
#39 - Zach Solow - RW (Toronto - AHL)
#38 - Semyon Kizimov - RW -(Yekaterinberg - KHL)
#37 - Robert Mastrosimone – LW. (Toronto – AHL)
#36 - Marko Sikic – RW (Sarnia – OHL, Newfoundland/Norfolk – ECHL)
#35 – Jacob Bengtsson – D (Boston College – NCAA)
#34 – Nicolas Mattinen – D (Straubling – Germany-DEL)
#33 – Matthew Barbolini – F (Miami(OH) – NCAA, Toronto – AHL)
#32 – Nathan Mayes – D (Spokane – WHL)
#31 – Braeden Kressler – C (Flint/Ottawa – OHL
#30 – Jacob Frasca – C (Barrie/ Sault Ste. Marie.- OHL)
#29 – Chas Sharpe – D (Mississauga – OHL, Toronto – AHL)
#28 – Hudson Malinoski – C (Providence – NCAA)
#27 – John Fusco – D (Dartmouth - NCAA
Former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas selected the youngest player available in the 2018 NHL Draft in Semyon Der-Argushintsev after the Russian center scored 51 points (12 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.
Known for his playmaking, stick handling and hockey IQ, SDA signed an entry-level contract during the Leafs 2019 training camp before being sent back to the OHL. Not gifted with great speed, the Moscow native got taller and put on some muscle, but took a step back in his third OHL season, dropping slightly to 46 points in 62 games and scoring only six goals.
Following the elimination of the Petes in the first round of the OHL Playoffs, Der-Argushintsev joined the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers and played nine playoff games on their way to a Kelly Cup title. In 2019-20, he posted a career-high 75 points (12 goals, 63 assists) in 55 games with the Petes playing alongside fellow Leafs prospect Nick Robertson.
With the OHL shut down, the Leafs found a spot for the young forward in the KHL with Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo, where he posted six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 17 games. SDA only played six AHL games upon his return to North America, but had four assists with the Marlies. In his first full season with the Leafs affiliate, the 22-year-old had 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 51 games, but finished with a team worst -12 plus/minus rating.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev scored the lone goal in Traktor's 1-0 overtime win against Lada on Monday.
Der-Argushintsev got knocked off the puck easily and was not strong enough, but things seemed to progress slightly in his second full AHL season, as he posted similar stats (12 goals, 28 assists in 50 games), and he got his first taste in the NHL, playing one game in December against the Dallas Stars. He received a qualifying offer from Toronto after the expiration of his ELC, but he chose to return to the KHL to play with Traktor Chelyabinsk last season.
In his first full KHL season, the 23-year-old scored 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 53 games and 10 points in 13 playoff game for Traktor. SDA’s NHL rights are still under Leafs control, but with him playing another year in Russia, the potential of him returning to North America is in question. he sees a path getting to the NHL with the Leafs or any other club. Toronto retains his rights in perpetuity, so he remains an asset that they can trade or bring back if he shows progress over the next few seasons in Russia.
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