Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 10 Prospects

1. Jonas Gustavsson

Position: Goalie

Nationality: Swedish 

Age: 24

 Acquired: Free Agent

Strengths: Three things you want in a goalie size, aggressive and technically sound.

Weaknesses: Has little to no experience against North American shooters.

NHL Comparison: Jonas Hiller

NHL Ready By: 2009 - 2010

2. Tyler Bozak

 Position: Center

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 23

Acquired: Free Agent

Strengths: He is considered a goal scorer and has outstanding hockey smarts.

Weaknesses: Injury trouble and strength.

NHL Comparison: Paul Stastny

NHL Ready By: 2009 - 2010

3. Nazem Kadri

Position: Center

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 18

Acquired: 1st Rd, 7th Overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: A top notch playmaker who is willing to go into high traffic areas for the puck. May be better suited for the wing in the NHL. 

Weaknesses: He'll need to get bigger and stronger to be NHL ready.

 NHL Comparison: Marc Savard

NHL Ready By: 2010 - 2011

4. Mikhail Stefanovich

Position: Right Wing

Nationality: Belorussian

Age: 19

Acquired: 4th Rd, 98th Overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: Undoubtedly one of the top offensive prospects in the game today.

Weaknesses: Consistency, though he made strides towards correcting it this season, is still a major concern with Stefanovich.

NHL Comparison: Alexei Kovalev

NHL Ready By: Could suprise this year but likely 2010 - 2011

5. Viktor Stalberg

Position: Left Wing

Nationality: Swedish

Age: 23

Acquired: 6th Rd, 161st Overall, 2006 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: Big, strong skater with the ability to put the puck in the net.

Weaknesses: No glaring weaknesses but only time will tell if he's successful in the NHL.

NHL Comparison: Mike Modano - Lite

NHL Ready By: 2009 - 2010 but there may not be room for him on the roster

6. Jimmy Hayes

Position: Right Wing

Nationality: American

Age: 19

Acquired: 2nd Rd, 60th Overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: A big bodied forward with soft hands.

Weaknesses: Doesn't use his size all to well.

NHL Comparison: Jaromir Jagr - Lite

NHL Ready By: 2012 - 2013

7. Chris DiDomenico

Position: Center

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 20

Acquired: 6th Rd, 164th Overall, 2007 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: A good two-way center who can help on both sides of special teams.

Weaknesses: Size is a factor, Chris stands at 5'11" and 165 lbs.

NHL Comparison: John Madden

NHL Ready By: 2010 - 2011

8. Jesse Blacker

Position: Defense

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 18

Acquired: 2nd Rd, 58th Overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: A good two-way defenseman, may have more offensive upside than most scouts seem to think.

Weaknesses: Makes little mistakes sometimes, should disappear with development and maturity.

NHL Comparison: Carlo Colaiacovo

NHL Ready By: 2011 - 2012

9. Christian Hanson

Position: Right Wing

Nationality: American

Age: 23

Acquired: Free Agent

Strengths: Hanson is a physical, honest, hard working, defensively solid power forward with the ability to score and set up goals at any level.

Weaknesses: Hanson showed his nerves in his 5 games with the Leafs last season, but that will disappear with time. He needs to adjust to the speed change between college and the NHL before he finds himself in any everyday spot with the Leafs.

NHL Comparison: Scott Hartnell

NHL Ready By: 2009 - 2010

10. Kenny Ryan

Position: Right Wing

Nationality: American

Age: 18

Acquired: 2nd Rd, 50th Overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Strengths: Ryan's an aggressive power forward

Weaknesses: Size is a factor for a guy who plays a power forward game.

NHL Comparison: Chris Kunitz

NHL Ready By: 2012 - 2013

Honourable Mentions

Jerry D'Amigo
Joel Champagne
Carl Gunnarsson
Jerome Flaake
Robert Slaney
Dale Mitchell  
Juraj Mikus