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Toronto Maple Leafs: 2016 World Juniors Recap of Leafs Top Prospects

By James Middleton

Oct 2, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; aToronto Maple Leafs right wing Kasperi Kapanen (71) skates with the puck chased by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (55) in the second period t Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; aToronto Maple Leafs right wing Kasperi Kapanen (71) skates with the puck chased by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (55) in the second period t Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Mitchell Marner puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Team Canada:

Mitch Marner: Following the early injury to William Nylander, Marner was by far the most heavily watched Leafs prospect at the tournament. He did not disappoint.

Despite taking a couple of stupid penalties in the pre-tournament games, Marner showed against team Finland why he was taken fourth overall last June. He was absolutely fantastic in the third period with two goals, and could have completed the hat-trick had he been able to find the five hole on Kahkonen.

Toronto Maple Leafs
Sep 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs player Mitch Marner (84) brings down Buffalo Sabres player Daniel Catenacci (43) during the second period of game against Buffalo Sabres at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

Make no mistake about it, this was a massive tournament for Marner. While he didn’t put up numbers like Puljujarvi or Laine, he was forced to expand his defensive game and learn to shoot the puck more instead of trying to make a play all the time.

Marner should continue to completely dominate in the OHL, hopefully leading the Knights to an OHL and Memorial Cup title. This will then potentially pave his way to making the Leafs’ roster next season.

Travis Dermott: Outside of Nylander’s incomplete tournament, Travis Dermott had probably the second most disappointing display by a Leafs prospect. He looked great in the pre-tournament games, but kind of underwhelmed once the tournament came around. (To be fair, all of Canada’s defencemen did, except Joe Hicketts).

Dermott, who has had a fantastic season with the Erie Otters, looked a little slow out on the big ice, something that had been seen as a negative for him when he was drafted. Overall, it was another good experience for him to be able to play against the best junior aged players in the world.

However it showed that we shouldn’t count on seeing Dermott with the Leafs for at least another season or two. Although, until Nikita Zaitsev is signed, he remains Toronto’s top defensive prospect.

Next: Team Sweden

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