Toronto Maple Leafs prospect roundup: Young Marlies thriving in playoffs
By Austin Owens
CHL/USHL
Mac Hollowell, Defence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
What a year for the 20-year-old.
Hollowell was another overage draft pick by the Leafs. The 5-foot-11 blue-liner was taken in the fourth round last summer by the Buds, and he’s now climbed into the conversation as one of the organizations best prospects with his great campaign.
Serving as the assistant captain for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds this season, Hollowell posted a career-high 24 goals and 77 points in 64 games. He led all OHL defencemen in scoring and carried that success in the playoffs, finishing with a point per game.
The Soo was bounced in the second round by Saginaw, opening the door for Hollowell to make the jump to the pro ranks. He played his first game with the Marlies on Sunday, where he was paired with fellow newcomer Joseph Duszak. He finished as a plus-one in the Game 2 overtime win.
Ian Scott, Goalie, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Scott joined the Marlies on an ATO last season. He was able to be around for the team’s Calder Cup run and had a chance to learn from Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard during his time with the team.
He took that experience and applied it with the Prince Albert Raiders this season. Scott did it all, fashioning a 41-15-4 record with a 1.83 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage, eight shutouts, and a goal.
🚨 He shoots, he scores! 🚨@MapleLeafs prospect @IceScott99 scores his first career WHL goal tonight for the @PARaidersHockey! pic.twitter.com/NeGYJgectN
— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 17, 2018
Prince Albert’s Conference Final series against the Edmonton Oil Kings is currently knotted after two games. Scott will need to continue being a rock in the crease for the team to make a run at the Memorial Cup. He’s put up a 1.79 GAA and a .928 SV% in 12 playoff starts.
He may not get the chance to play with the Marlies this year, but he’s proven to be ready to make the jump to the AHL.
Semyon Der-Agrunchintsev, Centre, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
There was no prospect in the Leafs system with more hype than Der-Arguchintsev heading into the season.
The 2018 third-rounder was the youngest player available in the draft, however, he was playing games with the Leafs right up until the end of the preseason. He was sent back to Peterborough in order to continue his development in the CHL.
He had a bit of a down campaign, finishing with just six goals and 46 points in 62 games. He would put up three points in five playoff games, but the Petes were eliminated in the first round by Oshawa.
Following the season, SDA was added to the Marlies roster. They then reassigned him to the ECHL in order to give him more ice time down the stretch.
He was able to get two points in his three games of regular season action. He has a goal and an assist in the Growlers’ first-round series against the Brampton Beast.
The 18-year-old gets his first PRO PLAYOFF GOAL!
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) April 13, 2019
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.
SDA👊#StandPROUD pic.twitter.com/FaeEuIjnbO
The Leafs signed Der-Arguchintsev to his three-year entry-level deal back in the fall. He’s still only 18 and could play another two seasons in the CHL. But he could make the jump to pro quicker than that if he continues to have strong performances.
Riley Stotts, Centre, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Just a few picks after the Leafs took Der-Arguchintsev, they selected another promising forward in Stotts, who finished with nearly a point per game last season after being traded to the Calgary Hitmen.
He missed nearly a month with an injury. When he returned, Stotts did get some time in the top six, but he also spent time on Calgary’s third line. He also set a career high in points this season with 57 in 62 games.
Following a thrilling seven-game series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Hitmen were promptly eliminated from the playoffs by the Oil Kings in four games.
The 19-year-old will have another year in the WHL to grow his game. He’s a former top 10 WHL Bantam Draft pick, so there’s a chance that the Leafs have another solid late-round pick waiting in the wings.
Filip Kral, Defence, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Kral was billed as a player to watch when the Leafs took him in the fifth round last summer. The Czech defender was coming off his first season in Spokane, where he put up decent numbers.
He started off this season with an injury and didn’t get into regular action until November. Kral did get the chance to play for the Czech Republic at the World Juniors. He finished with a goal in five games.
As for his season in the CHL, he set a new career high with 10 goals and 36 points in 47 contests.
He’s played in the Czech top flight in the past and now has two junior seasons under his belt in North America. He’ll likely be in the discussion to turn pro next year, but another season in Spokane wouldn’t do any harm if there isn’t a spot for him to be a regular contributor.
Fedor Gordeev, Defence, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Thanks to Steve Dangle, Gordeev has come a bit viral among Leafs fans. His play this year has also made people take notice of the former fifth-rounder.
The 6-foot-6 rearguard started the campaign with the Flint Firebirds, where he served as an assistant captain. At the OHL trade deadline, Gordeev was moved to Guelph in exchange for four draft picks.
He’s been in a bigger spotlight since joining a stacked Storm squad. They just managed to win their playoff series against the London Knights after going down 3-0.
As for the future, Gordeev seems to be an intriguing late-round get for the Leafs. He could very well end up playing for the Growlers. For now, he’s still taking a stab at the Memorial Cup with Guelph. They’re currently down 2-0 in their Western Conference Final series against the Saginaw Spirit.
Zachary Bouthillier, Goalie, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
It was a rough year for the Leafs’ seventh-round pick from last summer’s draft. He began the year with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, where he fashioned a 3.36 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage in 22 games.
He was traded to Saint John for a pair of picks. He finished his campaign on an even worse note, putting up a 5.13 GAA and a .882 SV% in 18 games for the Sea Dogs.
Following the QMJHL campaign, he signed a standard ECHL contract with the Growlers. Following the promotion of Michael Hutchinson, however, Bouthillier signed an amateur tryout deal with the Marlies.
He almost certainly won’t see any action in the playoffs, but he’ll be able to practice and learn from more experienced goaltenders and take those lessons back to junior in 2019-20. With the likes of Scott and Joseph Woll set to become pros next season, Bouthillier may head to the ECHL when he’s finished in the CHL.