Hi everyone,

I'm a former OHL Exec, and this summer I've dabbled into writing articles. Each observation is paired with video evidence to support different observations.

The latest one I've published is looking at how Darren Raddysh fits within the Leafs roster and breaking down his skillset.

https://www.chriswhalenhockey.com/raddysh-torontos-new-quarterback

Feel free to let me know what you think!

Hockey related offseason content only seems to grow stranger, because I have no idea who this dude is.

Also in the list are former leafs Nick Ritchie (10), Kasperi Kapanen (22), and Josh Ho-Sang (28)

8th Overall Pick: William Nylander (TOR)

Projection: A top line playmaking winger with dazzling skills and confidence handling and distributing the puck. Quick and crafty, sees the ice very well, and can shoot very well. Undersized, flawed defensively, and can get carried away trying to do too much himself. Compared to Patrick Kane by TSN and Jeff Skinner by THW.

Outcome: Selecting an undersized pure skill Swedish winger was not an uncontroversial way for the Leafs to start off their much-delayed rebuild, but it turned out to be clearly the right decision. Though some Toronto fans used the supposedly soft and selfish Nylander as the avatar for everything they thought was wrong with the team in the late 2010s, the way Willy hit his potential in the 2020s has silenced the critics; since 2021 he’s scored at a 40-goal, 90-point pace and been the team’s most consistent postseason producer. Not only did he maximize all the skills he was celebrated for as a prospect, he also added a lot of strength which has allowed him to further extend his puck possession skill and open up the dirty areas of the ice for net-drives. The defence never really improved, but it’s hard to care too much about that given his offensive weapons.

Matthews is 1 of only 3 players to ever win the hart with leafs. Lead the league in goals 3 times holds the goal record. Is a good two way player. And even if you don’t think he’s the best leaf ever. I think he has to be the best since probably Ted Kennedy.

Have the Leafs had any other player that has dominated their position like Sergei Bobrovksy?

List who else can contend..... any time in Leaf history.

Bobrovsky

1. 3 shows at the Dance

2. 2 Cups

3. 2 Vezinas

4. No. 7 amongst all goalies for wins (and closing in on 4th potentially this season).

I dont think anyone can match....not over past 60 years anyways. Who else?

Found it in a collection.
Any help is appreciated

Haven’t been this excited about a player in a while
Also super clean skates

I think he’s got to be a hall of famer at this point over 1100 points over 500 goals. Should be enough what are your thoughts.

Know Matthews season wasn’t the best last year but he still looks like a franchise/generational player. Feel like Nylander doesn’t drive the line enough for him to warrant such a rating.

Happy Friday, all. This was top-15 I think, but they didn't do a good job compiling a list, so I'm going with the top ten.

1. Gavin McKenna
2. Artur Akhtyamov
3. Ben Danford
4. Tinus Luc Koblar
5. Alexander Bilecki
6. Ethan MacKenzie
7. Noah Chadwick
8. Miroslav Holinka
9. Tyler Hopkins
10. Luke Haymes

I'm thinking Chadwick is too high, Holinka should be above MacKenzie I think, but I would be remiss not to highlight my complete faith in TLK as I think he's the Leafs second best prospect and is NHL-ready now.

What is the greatest moment in Matthews Era?

Pick one......or name another.

1. Auston Matthews scores 4 goals in first game

2. Tavares scores in OT to win first round against Tampa

3. Auston Matthews scores 69 goals in season

4. Gavin McKenna drafted 1st overall