Toronto Maple Leafs prospect roundup: Young Marlies thriving in playoffs
By Austin Owens
NCAA/USHL
Joseph Woll, Goalie, Boston College
Woll has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Leafs’ system over the past three years. He’s been a steady presence for Boston College since stepping onto campus in 2016 and he had his best NCAA season in 2018-19.
He started a career-high 37 games, posting a 2.41 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
The goaltender left BC and signed his three-year entry-level deal with the Leafs in March. He couldn’t be sent down to the Marlies, so he’s still on the Leafs’ roster. Woll is finishing up classes for the rest of the year and won’t be seen on the ice until next season.
He’ll almost certainly be one of the goaltenders for the Marlies, but he could also spend time with the ECHL’s Growlers depending on the organization’s plans for him.
Dakota Joshua, Centre, Ohio State
Toronto drafted a few solid players in the 2014 draft, namely William Nylander and Engvall. Joshua is another skilled player who could bring a lot to the table at the professional level.
The Leafs took Joshua, who was playing in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He would spend one more year there following the draft before heading to Ohio State in the fall of 2015.
Over the course of his NCAA career, he amassed 41 goals and 100 points in 128 career games with Ohio State.
Joshua has yet to join the Marlies on an ATO following the NCAA season. The Leafs still have his rights until Aug. 15. The two sides could come to a deal, but the 22-year-old could also opt to wait it out and sign with the team of his choice once he hits the open market.
Ryan O’Connell, Defence, Ohio State
When the Leafs selected O’Connell in the seventh round in 2017, he had just finished his high school career with St. Andrew’s College. He spent the following season with the Penticton Vees before making his way to Ohio State this year.
In his freshman season, he was able to play with Joshua on the Buckeyes. He was used in all but five games and had just two points in 31 contests.
There’s still a lot for the 19-year-old to accomplish at the collegiate level. Don’t expect him to leave Columbus for a while.
J.D. Greenway, Defence, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Greenway missed nearly the entire 2017-18 season due to personal reasons. He opted to leave Wisconsin and transfer to the University of Maine. As a result, the big defender had to sit out the NCAA campaign.
He decided to play a year in the USHL and was taken by the Chicago Steel with the seventh overall pick in the draft. They promptly flipped him to Dubuque in exchange for four players and a pick.
Greenway had his best season production-wise, scoring nine goals and finishing the year with 33 points in 58 games.
He’ll be headed to play for the Black Bears in 2019-20 and is at least a season away from playing in the Leafs’ organization.