In a departure from my usual style, this will be a concise update on multiple prospects in Toronto at once. I want to remind you that I am focusing on players not on the Marlies, those in junior, college, or Europe, and not discussing every prospect under Toronto’s ownership. The regular season has wrapped up for non-AHL leagues, with some leagues already in playoff mode, like Russia in the second round. Instead of detailed reports on all 15 prospects, I’ll provide brief updates on their progress and playoff situations.
Starting off with Easton Cowan, who has been a standout prospect for Toronto this season. He ended the regular season on a high note with a goal and an assist in his final game. Cowan impressively maintained a 36-game point streak, tallying 25 goals and 68 points. He wrapped up the season ranked second in the league for points per game at 1.77, projecting to 148 points over a full 68-game season. Despite missing time for Toronto’s pre-season camp and the World Juniors, Cowan tied for 6th in the league with 96 points in 54 games. Notably, he led the league in both short-handed goals (7) and points (14). It was undoubtedly a remarkable season for a player who faced doubts, including from myself, about his first-round draft pick status.
The London Knights secured the top record in the OHL and will kick off their playoff campaign against Flint on March 29th. Despite competing in a tougher conference, their journey to the OHL championship and Memorial Cup appearance is not guaranteed. However, they are the favored team with exceptional stats such as the second-best offense, the best defense, powerplay, penalty kill, and a strong mix of talented prospects in their lineup. Additionally, Cowan is expected to lead them in various situations.
Saskatoon, similar to London, clinched the best league record but is in a less challenging conference. Their strengths include having the 7th best offense, a remarkable defense, great special teams, and they will face Prince Albert in the first round of playoffs on March 28th. It should be noted that they narrowly missed facing Chadwick’s team, as mentioned below.
Nick Moldenhauer
Moldenhauer recently completed a respectable rookie campaign with Michigan. Mostly serving as a depth player on the third line and second powerplay unit, he finished the season with eight goals and twenty-one points. That was good enough for eighth place on a rather deep team that included older NCAA veterans and first-round NHL draft prospects. That was decent enough for a tie for fortyth place among other U20 players in the whole NCAA. It was excellent but not outstanding for his role.
It was much the same watching Moldenhauer. Though I never saw him take control of a play or have a significant impact on the game, he had his moments. Even in his more encouraging and capitalistic moments, his influence was minimal. Observing the
