Toronto Maple Leafs prospect rankings: Prospects No. 1-5

No. 3: Jeremy Bracco

Right wing, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

The 2016-17 season was a memorable one for Jeremy Bracco. It started out with a record setting 25-game point streak to open the season, and then he went to the World Junior Championships with Team USA where he played a pivotal role for the Gold Medal winners.

When Bracco returned to Kitchener he found out he had been traded to the Memorial Cup hosts, the Windsor Spitfires. Following the trade, it took Bracco a while to adjust to his new team, but he hit his stride right in time. Following a disappointing first round exit at the hands of the London Knights, the Spitfires, led by Bracco and future stars Gabe Villardi, Mikael Sergachev, and Michael DiPietro, pulled off the improbable. They managed to win the Memorial Cup over the Erie Otters, and Bracco played a big part in that victory. Tallying eight points over four games, Bracco’s full arsenal of tools was on display.

Bracco is an offensively dynamic, albeit undersized winger. He’s an elite skater who has the ability to make plays at a high rate of speed and is exceptionally gifted with the puck. Although he isn’t exceptionally big, Bracco finds a way to avoid hits by using his edge work, which is some of the best I have ever seen. His ability to speed up while on his edges is something that is incredibly valuable and is rare to see. Whenever I watch Bracco play, all I can think of is another former Kitchener Ranger, Jeff Skinner, in that their games are incredibly similar with regards to their edge work and hands while also being an undersized winger.

For me, Bracco has the talent to be a top six forward with the Leafs down the road, and should play a massive role for what should be a reloaded Marlies team next year.