Each week beginning today, sportsnet.ca will take a look at all seven Canadian NHL teams’ prospect systems, shedding some light on five players who are making an impact outside of the AHL.
In a ranking of who’s exceeding expectations, and who’s struggling, the Toronto Maple Leafs take the hot seat as a high-scoring Otter and a red-hot canine highlight these five prospective NHLers.
1) Connor Brown (RW), Erie Otters (OHL): The Otters forward has been on an absolute tear as of late. Brown has points in nine of his last 10 games, collecting almost three points-per-game with 28 in that span (including a six-point night against the Windsor Spitfires).
Brown is benefitting from having a world-class teammate in Connor McDavid, but the Leafs have to be happy in Brown’s ability to play with a top-level playmaker. Brown has notched at least 25 goals in each of his three seasons in the OHL and currently leads the league in scoring over teammate Dane Fox by 14 points.
2) Andreas Johnson (LW), Frolunda (SHL): The Leafs took a flyer on Johnson, picking the winger in the seventh round last year. Johnson has rewarded their faith with a solid season in Sweden. The forward shares Frolunda’s lead in goals (15) with Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round pick Alexander Wennberg, and has 23 points in 38 games.
Johnson then propelled that strong showing with an even better performance while the world was watching. Johnson scored six points in seven games with Team Sweden at the World Junior Hockey Championships and is now third on Frolunda in points.
3) Carter Verhaeghe (C), Niagara (OHL): Verhaeghe’s development is cleanly on schedule in Niagara. The IceDogs have won a lot of their games on the strength of their offence, and Verhaeghe’s a big part of that. The centreman has mirrored his team’s fate recently, with the pups climbing out of the Eastern Conference basement and into the playoff picture – a much-desired step for any rebuilding club.
Verhaeghe‘s red-hot October (22 points in 11 games) has rubbed off on linemate Brendan Perlini, who’s ranked as one of the top picks in this year’s NHL draft. They’re most lethal on Niagara’s fourth-ranked power-play: 11 of Verhaeghe’s 23 goals come with the man-advantage, while 13 of Perlini’s 28 come by the same.
4) Matt Finn (D), Guelph Storm (OHL): Skating for powerhouse Guelph, Finn has taken tremendous strides with his development, captaining the Storm for the second straight year. He’s already tied his season-high 11 goals — not surprising given the Storm’s ability to score — and he’s got four points in his last two games. Whether it’s Guelph or Erie emerging from the OHL’s west, Leafs fans will be invested in one of their own with Finn and Brown.
5) Chris Gibson (G), Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL): Gibson is spending his days in the ECHL with Drew MacIntyre and Garret Sparks manning the Marlies’ crease. Even though it’s not the AHL, he may be relishing it.
Gibson has a 7-7-2 record in sunny Orlando with a pretty strong team. His .883 save percentage doesn’t inspire confidence, but goaltenders are generally allowed a little leeway when making the pro jump. Gibson was drafted in the second round in 2011 by the Los Angeles Kings, but L.A. failed to sign the netminder after two haphazard seasons with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL.