We have come to the end of another Maple Leafs Top 25 Under 25 series, with Auston Matthews repeating at number one.
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2017 Top 25 Leafs recap: The new season is almost here.
As always, we allowed our readers the opportunity to re-rank our selections, despite the fact we are scouting professionals who are always correct about everything.
Also as usual, you screwed it all up. I am thankful you at least left Matthews as number 1. After a grand total of 19,305 votes cast, here is your Maple Leafs Top 25 Under 25.
Top 25 Under 25 Comparison of Your Ranks to Ours
| Rank | Our List | Your List | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auston Matthews | Auston Matthews | = |
| 2 | William Nylander | Mitch Marner | +1 |
| 3 | Mitch Marner | William Nylander | -1 |
| 4 | Morgan Rielly | Morgan Rielly | = |
| 5 | Kasperi Kapanen | Timothy Liljegren | +2 |
| 6 | Connor Brown | Kasperi Kapanen | -1 |
| 7 | Timothy Liljegren | Connor Brown | -1 |
| 8 | Connor Carrick | Travis Dermott | +2 |
| 9 | Josh Leivo | Connor Carrick | -1 |
| 10 | Travis Dermott | Carl Grundstrom | +2 |
| 11 | Andreas Johnsson | Josh Leivo | -2 |
| 12 | Carl Grundstrom | Adam Brooks | +3 |
| 13 | Jeremy Bracco | Andreas Johnsson | -2 |
| 14 | Nikita Soshnikov | Jeremy Bracco | -1 |
| 15 | Adam Brooks | Andrew Nielsen | +4 |
| 16 | Andreas Borgman | Andreas Borgman | = |
| 17 | Calle Rosen | Kerby Rychel | +1 |
| 18 | Kerby Rychel | Calle Rosen | -1 |
| 19 | Andrew Nielsen | Nikita Soshnikov | -5 |
| 20 | Dmytro Timashov | Dmytro Timashov | = |
| 21 | Miro Aaltonen | Joseph Woll | +4 |
| 22 | Yegor Korshkov | Yegor Korshkov | = |
| 23 | Eemeli Rasanen | Eemeli Rasanen | = |
| 24 | Garret Sparks | Frederik Gauthier | +4 |
| 25 | Joseph Woll | Garret Sparks | -1 |
| 25 | Rinat Valiev | - | NR |
Let’s look at some of the variances.
Mitch Marner vs. William Nylander
Positions two and three have to be the most contested on the list. Matthews was obviously going first, despite some last minute shenanigans by user emjay. We ranked Nylander at 2, and Marner at 3; you chose the opposite.
Obviously, you are wrong, but I am sure this debate will rage for some time.
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Nikita Soshnikov
After rocketing up the ranks last season, Soshnikov tumbled down our ranking four positions, but you moved him down another 5, which was the biggest variance between our ranking and yours. Soshnikov is most notable for being still exempt from waivers. He ended last season injured and was recently reported to have not yet fully recovered.
We will see where he ends up at the start of next season, but for the poll on our Top 25 post on Soshnikov, you voted overwhelmingly he would start the season with the Marlies.
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2017 Top 25 under 25: #14 Nikita Soshnikov
Andrew Nielsen
The defenceman best known for his patented point-shot did not have many fans among the PPP staff voters, but he has a loyal following among fans. You up-voted him four spots above our ranking.
This will be a pivotal year for Nielsen, who is about to turn 21. He’ll face some new competition for ice-time on the Marlies with the arrival of Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman.
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2017 Top 25 Under 25: Andrew Nielsen checks in at #19
The Goalies
We had Garret Sparks and Joseph Woll ranked at 24th and 25th, respectively.
You voted up Woll four spots higher to 21st, clearly impressed with his gold medal winning performances for Team USA at the World Junior Championship.
You voted down Garret Sparks one spot to 25th. With a June 28th birthday, this is the last time the now 24-year-old goalie will appear in our Top 25 Under 25. His possible addition to the Maple Leafs roster is unclear after the team re-signed last season’s backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney. He will certainly play many games for the Marlies, with Antoine Bibeau gone to the San Jose Sharks organization.
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2017 Top 25 Under 25: #24 Garret Sparks
2017 Top 25 Under 25: #25 Joseph Woll
Frederik Gauthier
Not a single one of our voters ranked Frederik Gauthier in the top 25. You bumped him up to 24th. The big 22 year-old center and 2013 first-round draft pick has now played in a total of 22 games for the Maple Leafs, mostly on the fourth line with Matt Martin and a variety of other wingers.
Where he winds up to start this season is unclear. He suffered a major injury at the end of last season thanks to noted rat Jake Dotchin. It was reported to require six months of recovery, which would push through to the beginning of November.
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UPDATED: Dotchin suspended for hit on Gauthier
Thanks for participating again this year
Now take one last poll and tell us which of the above players you got right, and we got wrong.
Which was the most accurate change by the community compared to the PPP staff vote?
| Marner at second instead of Nylander. | 106 |
| Dropping Soshnikov four spots. | 102 |
| Raising Nielsen four spots. | 60 |
| Voting Woll much higher. | 77 |
| Having Gauthier in the Top 25. | 114 |
| The intelligent and attractive staff of PPP were correct about everything. | 92 |
