The Budding Buds: Ranking the Toronto Maple Leafs' Top 10 Prospects

For years it seemed, the Leafs opted to mortgage the future to win now. Under many GMs, the Leafs continually traded picks and prospects for win-now quick fixes. Most of the time, those quick fixes came back to bite them where the sun don't shine. 

Such players include Brad Boyes (Owen Nolan deal), Tuukka Rask (Andrew Raycroft deal), Steve Sullivan (waived to make room for Dmitri Khristich of all people), and who can forget trading their first round pick in 1993 (Scott Niedermayer) for Tom Kurvers?

Due to this, the Leafs often enjoyed being at the bottom of the NHL's prospect ranking hierarchy.

Brian Burke started out his tenure making a very risky deal for Phil Kessel. Another deal in which the Leafs gave up multiple high picks for one player. Right now, Toronto has won the deal, but once Seguin proves himself in the NHL, that decision will more than likely shift.

Other than that, Burke has done a fairly good job of not sacrificing the future without getting something back that can help them in the longer run. For example, he traded prospects Viktor Stalberg, Chris Didomenico, and Phillippe Paradis, but got back youngsters Kris Versteeg and Billy Sweatt.

Just recently, we found out that with the recent signing of Marcel Mueller out of the German Elite League, the Leafs opted to not offer Sweatt a contract as his demands were out of the Leafs price range.

We will start out with my rankings. Note: A prospect is a player who has not reached the NHL rookie limit, being 20 games started as a goaltender, or 25 games played as a positional player.

10. Jerry D'Amigo (LW)—R.P.I (NCAA)

2009-2010 Season

35 games 10 goals 24 assists 34 points 

Jerry D'Amigo's coming out party seemed to be the World Junior Hockey Championship held in 2010 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The United States ended up winning on a goal by John Carlson in overtime against a hard working Canadian squad. But not to be overshadowed by Carlson's goal, D'Amigo's all-around game and penalty killing were valuable to the junior team winning the trophy and is even more valuable going forward for the Maple Leafs.

9. Greg McKegg (C/LW)—Erie Otters (OHL)

2009-2010 Season

67 games 37 goals 48 assists 85 points

McKegg saw his stock dramatically rise this past offseason with his incredible two-way play with the Otters. Having a terrible +/- the previous year, McKegg improved his +/- to a point where he led the Otters in that category. He also added his best goal and point totals of his short OHL career. Noted as having great hands and an innate ability to put the puck in the net, however, McKegg's greatest weakness appears to be his skating.

8. Korbinian Holzer (D)—DEG Metro Stars (DEL)

2009-2010 Season

52 games six goals 16 assists 22 points 96 penalty minutes

Holzer was recently signed to a two-way contract with the Leafs. Holzer was a member of the German Olympic team where he proved to be one of the Germans' best players. At 6'3", he has the height to compete at the NHL level. However, his weight and strength still remain to be issues. He's at 190 lbs right now, where he ideally should be between 200-215. He still needs to work on his offensive game, but he's only 22 and that part of his game should devleop.

7. James Reimer (G)—Toronto Marlies (AHL)

2009-2010 Season

14-8-2 2.25 GAA .925 SV percentage in 24 games played

Reimer enjoyed a steady rookie year with the Marlies this past season. The Marlies were not a very good team, but Reimer backstopped them most nights to victories. He's got decent size for a goaltender at 6'2" 208 lbs, and can handle the puck quite well. If there's any part of his game that isn't quite there, it would be consistency, which all young goalies need to learn before they can become top goalies in the NHL.

6. Brad Ross (LW)—Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

2009-2010 Season

71 games 27 goals 41 assists 68 points 203 penalty minutes

Ross, playing next to top five 2010 draftees Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johansen, enjoyed a breakout year. His combination of size, skill, and scrappy play drew him to the Leafs an Brian Burke. Ross was easily one of the most hated players in the WHL last season, and GM Brian Burke hopes Ross can bring his all around play to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for years to come.

5. Jussi Rynnas (G)—Assat Pori (FIN)

2009-2010 Season

31 games 2.50 GAA .929 SV percentage

You might be wondering why he's ranked so high based on the limited stats I've come across. I've seen some videos of his game and he looks like another legit Finnish goalie who has made his way across the pond to play in the NHL someday. Rynnas is a goalie who reminds me of former Leaf prospect Tuukka Rask. There must be something in the water in Finland with the amount of good, young goalies it produces.

4. Marcel Mueller (LW/RW)—Cologne Sharks (DEL)

2009-2010 Season

53 games 22 goals 34 assists 56 points 122 penalty minutes

Just recently signed to a two-way contract with the Leafs, Mueller, like Holzer, saw his stock rise dramatically after a great showing at the Olympics. Mueller is a big kid who likes to go to the dirty areas and work. Mueller had a great year with his club team, Cologne. At 22 years old, averaging more than a point per game in a man's league is something he can hold his head high about. 

3. Jesse Blacker (D)—Windsor Spitfires/Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

2009-2010 Season

57 games six goals 27 assists 33 points 74 penalty minutes

Blacker had a good year last year in the OHL. He was dealt to the Owen Sound Attack early in the year in a move that proved to be a great move for Blacker. Blacker became the Attack's best defender and played major minutes he would've only dreamed of getting behind the likes of Ryan Ellis, Cam Fowler, Harry Young, and Marc Cundari in Windsor. Blacker has a good all around game which lends itself well to the NHL. He played six games for the Marlies amassing one assist during that time.

2. Keith Aulie (D)—Abbotsford Heat/Toronto Marlies (AHL)

2009-2010 Season

48 games two goals four assists six points 38 penalty minutes

Aulie was acquired in the Dion Phaneuf trade that Brian Burke orchestrated midway through the season last year. How he managed to get him out of the Flames' hands, I really can't tell you, but boy am I glad we have him now in the organization. Aulie doesn't project to be a dynamite offensive defender; however, he will be a dynamic shutdown defender who compliments Luke Schenn and Dion Phaneuf's games very well. He played with Tyler Myers in the World Juniors in 2009 in Ottawa, and formed their shutdown pair for the tournament.

1. Nazem Kadri (C)—London Knights (OHL)

2009-2010 Season

56 games 35 goals 58 assists 93 points 105 penalty minutes

Easily the Leafs' best prospect, Kadri's all around game, toughness, speed, and skill are what makes Kadri, hands down the best Leafs prospect. When he was sent down, coach Ron Wilson stated, "I can see Nazem scoring 100 points when he goes down there." Had Nazem played the full season of 68 games, he probably would've reached that total easily. 

Going into next year, Kadri will need to add upper-body strength to his resume so he can battle night in and night out with some of the game's best players. Kadri is well on his way, and it looks like a roster spot for next season is his to lose.