Latest Updates on the Top Prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs

It takes time, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have slowly begun to stockpile some top prospects.

For the most part, they have taken a long-term approach with most of their top, young players. Morgan Rielly is a notable exception, as the Leafs have chosen to develop him, rightly or wrongly, at the NHL level.

Let's take a look at how the Maple Leafs' top prospects are faring in the early stages of the 2014-15 season.

All stats can be found on hockeyDB.com unless noted otherwise.

William Nylander, Forward, Modo

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William Nylander is back in the Swedish Elite League to continue expanding his already exceptional skills and get physically stronger.

He won't be 19 until next May, so this year could do wonders for him on several levels because there is such room for growth.

Nylander is off to a strong start in Sweden with 14 points in 12 games. According to the Modo website, he has 24 shots in those games and is playing nearly 20 minutes per game.

To put this in perspective, he had just seven points in 22 games last year while averaging less than 14 minutes per game.

Expect Nylander to be a star at the upcoming World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Toronto and Montreal. Maple Leafs fans will get an up-close look at this future NHL star.

Matt Finn, Defenceman, Toronto Marlies

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Matt Finn is making that very difficult transition from the CHL to the AHL. Finn was at almost a point-per-game pace last season with 61 points in 66 points with a strong Guelph Storm squad.

That offensive ability hasn't transferred to the AHL yet. He has posted one point in eight games with the Toronto Marlies. 

He does have 12 shots in the eight games he's played, and he has looked involved offensively at times. He began the year with a lower-body injury, so that has slowed his first pro season.

He's had knee injuries in the past, so the hope will be that those will be left behind him.

Finn has a lot of tools and should give a lot of hope to Leafs fans.

Stuart Percy, Defenceman, Toronto Marlies

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Oakville, Ontario, native Stuart Percy was the biggest story coming out of the Leafs' camp this past October. He made the team and started the season in the NHL.

He showed flashes of brilliance combined with a level of maturity that bodes well for his promising pro career. 

Percy is still just 21 years of age and remains well ahead of the curve for most developing defencemen. While the Leafs could use a boost on the point at the NHL level, letting Percy develop in the AHL is much better for him in the long term.

Percy had three points with the Leafs in eight contests, but he has yet to hit the scoresheet in the AHL with the Marlies. He has never been a dominant offensive player, but expect him to start contributing offensively in short order.

Percy has the makings of a very good top-four NHL defender. Look for him to flourish in his second full year with the Marlies.

Josh Leivo, Winger, Toronto Marlies

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Josh Leivo has developed into one of the top pro prospects in Toronto's organization. While other big, strong power forwards like Tyler Biggs have failed to develop the way many would hope, Leivo has likely exceeded expectations.

Leivo is a mobile, physical player who should be a top-nine NHL forward for several seasons.

Leivo has four points in eight games with the Marlies in 2014-15 and has chipped in one assist in limited minutes with the Leafs. He's just 21 years old, so there is reason to be excited for the Innisfil, Ontario, product.

In a perfect world, the Leafs will remain healthy and allow Leivo to have one more year of AHL seasoning.

Next year, he's a legitimate threat to be a full-time NHL forward, and he looks like an astute third-round pick in hindsight.