Latest Updates on the Top Prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs boast some very good prospects in their system. The work of stockpiling NHL prospects never ends, but fans should be excited about several young players.

William Nylander headlines the group and is currently showcasing his talents at the U20 World Juniors, which is being co-hosted by Montreal and Toronto.

Nylander has the markings of an impact NHL attacking forward. He won't intimidate defenders with his size, but he will have them quaking if he's allowed to get his feet moving and attack the offensive zone with speed and numbers.

The Leafs have some other prospects that are on the cusp of regular NHL play, too. Let's look at the latest updates on these top prospects.

Honorable mentions go to Rinat Valiev, Tom Nilsson, Petter Granberg and Carter Verhaeghe.

William Nylander, Team Sweden, Forward

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Nylander has been starring with Modo in the Swedish Elite League in 2014-15. He's playing in Canada currently but not with a Maple Leaf on his chest. 

He's toiling for Team Sweden at the U20 World Juniors where he should be one of the top scorers in the tournament.

Nylander has blazing speed. Against his peers, he's going to look like he has one, if not two extra gears. The separator is that Nylander can create at high speed, unlike so many lesser talents.

Nylander has 19 points in 19 games with Modo, per ModoHockey.se. In some of the portions of games, he has looked dynamic offensively.

He's also displayed some good body positioning defensively. He's obviously focusing on his two-way play as puck retrieval has also seemed much improved.

Nylander is well on his way to being a top-six NHL forward in the not-too-distant future.

Matt Finn, Orlando Solar Bears, Defenceman

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Former Guelph Storm captain Matt Finn has had a rocky start to his pro career. Finn has battled injuries over the past two seasons, and he is currently playing in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears.

Finn has two points in 20 games between the AHL and the ECHL, but it is not time to hit the panic button. While it's tempting to compare him to fellow 2012 draftee Morgan Rielly, that would be unfair.

Finn is on a typical path for young defencemen, other than the move down to the ECHL from the AHL, which is somewhat concerning.

With the Leafs enjoying greater depth on the blue line, the club has time to allow Finn to develop and mature in the minor leagues. Assessing him when he's in midseason form, rather than coming off of injury, will make more sense.

Frederik Gauthier, Team Canada, Centre

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Frederik Gauthier doesn't project to be a top-line centre in the NHL; however, he has the physical tools to be an effective NHL pivot for many years.

The Rimouski Oceanic star has been remarkably consistent in his QMJHL play. He has 126 points in 131 games. That includes 14 points in 15 games in 2014-15.

He is also readying to play a prominent role with the Canadian U20 World Junior team over the next two weeks. Gauthier will be assigned to play tough minutes against opposing teams' top centres. He'll also be expected to dominate physically and chip in with some timely points.

Gauthier is progressing very well, and you can pencil him in as the Leafs' third-line centre in the next few years.

Stuart Percy, Toronto Marlies, Defenceman

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Stuart Percy is never going to floor anyone with one, singular skill. His strength lies in his ability to make smart plays under duress and do this repeatedly.

That may sound simple, but if you watch many of the Leafs defenders, it's not so straightforward. Percy played with both poise and skill in his NHL stint earlier this season.

He hasn't been lighting the AHL on fire, with just three points in 15 games, but Percy's been effective in all three zones with the Marlies.

His three points have come in his last five games. Watch for this trend to continue in the coming weeks for the talented Oakville, Ontario, native.

He projects as a top-four defender for the Leafs in the next season or two.

Josh Leivo, Toronto Marlies, Forward

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Josh Leivo is on the cusp of regular NHL duty. Because the Leafs have added significant NHL depth in the past eight months, Leivo has had both NHL and AHL assignments.

He hasn't been handed an NHL job, and that should be seen as a good thing. Leivo continues to improve his all-around game. He projects as an effective third-line player who has the potential to play second-line minutes when called upon. 

Leivo has 10 points in 15 AHL games. He has also added one point in eight NHL contests. Leivo projects as a good skating depth forward who can more than hold his own physically. 

Depending on the injury situation, Leafs fans could see Leivo play some more NHL regular-season games and then potentially join the Leafs if a playoff run is in the cards next spring.

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