Toronto Maple Leafs: Five prospects to watch with the Toronto Marlies
Adam Brooks
If Brooks’ final year in the WHL was a preview of what to expect from the Winnipeg Man., the Leafs might have found an overage gem in the 2016 draft. In his final season with the Regina Pats, the 21-year old had 130 points in 66 games, improving on the 120 points in 72 games the year before. His performance saw him shoot up to number four on our prospect rankings. He is one of the more important prospects upfront because of the position he plays. The Leafs are stacked on the wings but down the middle is an area that like many other NHL teams, the Leafs’ depth is not that strong.
Now the transition from juniors to the AHL will be tough for Brooks and since he is already coming in at 21-years of age, there will be pressure for him to get acclimated sooner. The other reason is because the Marlies do not have strong depth at center. With Frederik Gauthier out with a knee injury, Brooks might have to play in a more prominent role right off the start. He might not be a flashy player but he is a hard working player that draws comparison to Connor Brown when it comes to his style of play.
The fact that Babcock is praising Brooks for his “drive train” and hockey sense should show how the organization looks at his potential. He will probably be a favourite for Sheldon Keefe this season and it will be important to see the type of role that he plays with the Leafs. He does not have to play the high level offensive game that he had in the WHL. If he can develop into a potential replacement for Tyler Bozak at some point in the future (not necessarily in 2018-19), the Leafs will take that.