Maple Leafs Prospect Report: January 27th News and Stars

It's been a while since my last prospect report. Ironically, despite losing my full time job I haven't had as much time to watch games as I used to. But I've been watching what I can and following the rest on social media and the boxscores, so let's see who's been hot!

Victor Johansson (LD, 4th rounder 2025)

Since Jan 6: 3 assists in 3 games in the SHL
Season to date: 3 assists in 5 games in the SHL

Johansson's weird season continues, but we have more positive news this month. After the World Juniors where he only played around 13 combined minutes in two games, he was returned to his loan in the Allsvenskan league for two games. They were pretty uneventful, but they were apparently enough of a 'get back in game shape' tune up to get called up to Leksands SHL team to join Koblar. He's played three games since then, playing between 13:27 and 17:05.

What I've seen from Johansson has been promising but not spectacular. He's been pretty sheltered from what I can see, and he seems to be handling the pace of the SHL better than I was expecting him to – his time in the Allsvenskan likely helped with that. But he is definitely still adjusting to the greater size and strength of these fully matured, top pro-level competition. If (hopefully) he sticks in the SHL for the rest of the season, what I hope to see from him is an ability to adapt to the level defensively. Being a good passer and driving transitions is great and all, but I want to see him able to play at least adequate defense for the level by the end of this season.

Nick Moldenhauer (RW, 3rd rounder 2022)

Since Jan 6: 3 goals, 2 assists (5 points) in 5 games
Season to date: 6 goals, 12 assists (18 points) in 24 games

I'll give credit to Moldenhauer, he may have largely struggled in the NCAA compared to the hopes and expectations, but this season he's seemed to have found an identity. Ironically, despite being on his best offensive pace in all three of his seasons in college it's not an offensive identity. He's become more of a defensive/role player in the middle six. That said, after going on a mini-tear against Notre Dame and Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, his point per game pace is three times higher than last season and well ahead of his freshman season.

I'm still doubtful he'll get a contract at the end of his NCAA career, unless he absolutely goes off next season as a top college player in his final year. While being a smart, defensively sound supporting winger is something that can be useful, he's small for such a role and he isn't so good at doing those things that I can see him being that successful even in the AHL.

Tyler Hopkins (C, 3rd rounder 2025)

Since Jan 6: 2 goals, 4 assists (6 points) in 6 games
Season to date: 15 goals, 18 assists (33 points) in 39 games

Since being traded from Kingston to Guelph, Hopkins found himself in a familiar role. That is to say, a top line centre on a not very good offensive team. Even though Guelph traded for Hopkins, they also traded away all their best players who are in their final junior season. This is likely because they are hosting the Memorial Cup next year and want to aggressively build a good team. So acquiring Hopkins, who can still return to them next season (unless he jumps to the NCAA) makes sense, and so too does trading away players that won't be able to.

Still, it's meant that Hopkins continues to get a top role. He has 8 points in 10 games since landing in Guelph, with 6 of those coming in the last 6 games. I've only seen one of his games since the trade so I can't speak all that confidently on how he's looked overall on a new team, but that will come. For now, let's appreciate this absolute bomb of a one-timer he showed off for his first goal with the team.

News & Notes

Sam McCue (LW, 7th rounder in 2024) – When McCue was traded from Brantford to Ottawa, he only played in one game for his new team in December before getting hurt. He finally returned on January 17th and has played in 5 games since. He has 1 goal and 3 assists in those games, with all of the assists coming in his second game back. He's going to the NCAA next season, but I consider him a huge long shot at this point. His skating is poor and his involvement/impact on the play is so low that I can't even consider him much of a role player.

Matthew Lahey (LD, 7th rounder in 2024) – I had stopped following Lahey this season, his freshman year with Michigan State in the NCAA, because until the new year he hadn't played in a single game. However, as of January 9th he's been used as a 7th defensemen in every game. He actually has two assists so far in six games, which isn't a lot but considering his usage that's still pretty surprising to me considering how much of a null offensive factor he was in junior. His first assist came on a nice pinching play to create a turnover in the offensive zone. His other was a deflection from his point shot.

Thanks for reading!

I put a lot of work into my prospect articles here, both for the draft and Toronto's prospects. I do it as a fun hobby for me, and I'd probably do it in some capacity even if PPP completely ceased to exist. But if you like reading my work, some support would go a long way! I pay for a few streaming services (CHL, NCAA, USHL, the occasional TSN options for international tournaments that are broadcast) to be able to reliably watch these prospects in good quality streams. I also pay for some prospect-specific resources, such as tracking data and scouting reports from outlets like Elite Prospects, Future Considerations, McKeen's Hockey, The Athletic, and more.

Being able to get paid for this helps me dedicate more time and resources to it, rather than to second/third jobs. And whatever money I make here, a lot of I reinvest back into my prospect work through in those streaming and scouting services. Like I said, I'd be doing whatever I can afford for this anyway, so any financial help I get through this is greatly appreciated!