Every month throughout the NHL season we’ll be updating you on the development of key Toronto Maple Leafs prospects with up-to-date stats, videos, analysis and scouting reports.
To rebuild a team from the ashes of ruin, a franchise needs a few things to go right: You can’t miss on high-end picks, and you need to unearth some gems in the middle rounds of the draft.
The way the Toronto Maple Leafs are trending, they’ll get a chance to hit a home run at this year’s draft. As for the hidden gems, the Leafs appear to have a few players who one day could fit that description.
One of those players is Carter Verhaeghe of the Niagara IceDogs.
The six-foot-two, 185-pound centre was a pleasant surprise for Leafs fans last season after finishing 21st in OHL scoring with 82 points. Although getting off to a slow start this year, Verhaeghe has cranked up his point totals in recent months.
His spike in production can partly be attributed to the return of linemate Brendan Perlini from injury and the acquisition of Josh Ho-Sang, both first-round NHL picks. Since Perlini’s return at the beginning of December, Verhaeghe is clicking at a 1.54 point-per-game clip compared to the 0.76 he averaged in his first 25 games.
But don’t be fooled, Verhaeghe isn’t just riding the coattails of his more vaunted teammates.
“He’s got great vision. He’s got an uncanny ability in that the puck seems to follow him around and find him. That’s just an innate ability good hockey players have. He’s just a quality person. He’s very coachable. He wants to get better,” IceDogs head coach Marty Williamson told the Toronto Star in December.
“He’s a young kid. His body still hasn’t grown into that of man. That’s when he’ll really take off.”
Along with picking up his game offensively, Verhaeghe picked up some extra responsibility in January when he was named the seventh captain in IceDogs history, joining Sam Carrick, Connor Brown, Matt Finn, Stuart Percy and Greg McKegg as Toronto prospects who served as captains of their respective junior teams.
Carter Verhaeghe: C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL), No. 21
Drafted: Third round, 82nd overall, 2013
Season to date: 50 GP | 23G | 34A | 57P | +12
Verhaeghe followed up a good December (4-11-15) with an even better January (6-12-18) to move into 20th in league scoring.
The Waterdown, Ont., native did it in not-so-subtle fashion, registering three three-point games and a four-point night in 12 contests.
The four-point night included an empty-netter, but the three assists were impressive. Take a look:
Garret Sparks: G, Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL), No. 32
Drafted: Seventh round, 190th overall, 2011
Season to date: 11-3-1 | 2.42 GAA | .935 SV% | 3 SO
You don’t normally want to have to dig down to the ECHL for good prospect news, but Garret Sparks is a special case.
Sparks never had a chance to grab the Marlies net after suffering a groin injury in pre-season, coupled with the solid play of Christopher Gibson and Antoine Bibeau. He was assigned to the ECHL and has since emerged as one of the best goalies in the league.
The 21-year-old was lights-out under heavy fire in January, finishing the month with a 4-1-0 record with a .952 save percentage despite facing 45-plus shots in three of those games.
Although the sample is microscopic, Sparks has one shutout and a .966 save percentage in the two games he’s played with the Marlies.
He also plays a mean air guitar…
Andreas Johnson: LW, Frolunda (SHL), No. 88
Drafted: Seventh round, 202nd overall, 2013
Season to date: 43 GP| 18 G | 10 A | 28 P | +9
Johnson is another one of those potential hidden gems the Maple Leafs will be banking on in the future.
The 20-year-old was named the SHL Rookie of the Year last season, and has continued to make gains in his sophomore campaign.
Johnson currently sits fourth in the SHL with 18 goals for a total of 28 points in 43 games, including four goals and eight points in January. He has also thrown 124 shots on goal this season and sits one back of the league leader.
Outside of league play, Johnson also has a ridiculous eight goals and 17 points in just five Champions League games.
Other players of note
Frederik Gauthier, C, Rimouski Oceanic: Coming off his gold-medal experience with Canada at the world juniors Gauthier had one of his finer offensive months as a junior in January, hitting the scoresheet in every game but one and finishing with five goals and 12 points in eight games.
Dominic Toninato, C, University Minnesota-Duluth: Playing on a line with fellow Leafs draftee Tony Camarnessi, Toninato leads the Bulldogs with 14 goals and 22 points in 25 games. The sophomore’s production has slowed after a quick start. He had one goal and three assists in seven games in January.
Rinat Valiev, D, Kootenay Ice: Valiev continues to produce at a near point-per-game pace on the season and leads Ice defencemen with 32 points in 34 games. The Russian blue-liner added seven points in 10 games last month.
Connor Brown, RW, Toronto Marlies: Had nine points in 10 games in January and continues to be the catalyst for the Marlies offence.
William Nylander, LW, Toronto Marlies: Nylander has shown flashes of brilliance with the Marlies, but they are just that — flashes. The skill is there; he just needs the proper time to develop. He has a goal and assist in six games with the Marlies.
