Dandy Dozen: Top 12 Toronto Maple Leafs prospects

Top Twelve Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects" - April 2012

This Month (Last Month)

1. (1) Nazem Kadri - Though he was in a 6-game scoring slump when we named him #1 last month, Nazem has done nothing but shine in the weeks since.Over the past week he has hoisted the Marlies on his shoulders and is readying them for a Calder Cup playoff drive. The leafs have a winning record with Kadri in the lineup, both this year and last, so he will stick with the Buds for the full 2012-2013 schedule.

2. (4) Matt Frattin - Matt looks able to secure a Big Nine position coming out of Carlyle's training camp this September. When he was sent down to the AHL this year, he scored something like 9 goals in 12 games and proved he was too good for that league, and his rough'n'tumble style of play appeals to the Toronto Maple Leafs new coach.

3. (/) Ben Scrivens - His season has gathered momentum from month to month, and though I have ranked Owuya as a better NHL prospect in the past, Ben appears ready for a shot. The AHL playoffs will be watched by scouts from all NHL clubs, and the coming weeks will be the biggest test of Scrivens' career to date.

4. (10) Korbinian Holzer - Only two months ago the Leafs D looked impenetrable for a stay-at-home defender such as Holzer. Now with Aulie gone and either Schenn or Phaneuf potentially being moved in the offseason, Holzer could see plenty of NHL action next year. The AHL playoffs will also be crucial for him.

5. (3) Joe Colborne

6. (2) Carter Ashton

7. (7) Tyler Biggs

8. (6) Jesse Blacker

9. (8) Mark Owuya

10.(/) Brad Ross

11.(/) Greg McKegg

12.(/)Josh Leivo

More top prospects: Stuart Percy, Jerry D'Amigo, Jamie Devane, Marcel Mueller, Spencer Abbott, Sam Carrick, Nicolas Deschamps





* To be eligible for this list, a player must be 25 or younger at the beginning of 2012, and must also have played less than 50 NHL games. This means that both Jake Gardiner and James Reimer are ineligible, as both are now bona fide NHLers, having each played significantly more than 50 games.