31 Teams in 31 Days - Toronto Maple Leafs

Not quite as much of a novel as is usually the case when reviewing Toronto's OHL prospects.

1. Nick Robertson - Peterborough Petes
Loved the value of this pick where the Leafs got him this year (53rd overall). I thought for sure that he would be a top 40 selection. There are some warts, for sure, but the things he does well, he does very well. Let's focus on those first. His skill level with the puck is terrific and is among the best in the OHL. His ability to maintain possession through cuts, turns, stops, and starts makes him such an elusive player in the offensive zone. His edgework and agility also play a role there. As good of a playmaker as he is, Robertson also possesses a wicked wrist shot with a lightning quick release. As we look forward to next year in Peterborough, where the Petes could be contenders in the East, here are the things that I'm looking for from Robertson. First to improve his top end speed. He's slippery, but I'd like to see him really add an extra gear to give him more time and space to operate given his smaller stature. Second is to improve the consistency of his energy level in the neutral zone and defensive zone. He's a puck hound in the offensive zone, but that's not always the case in all three zones. I expect it will be by the time his OHL career is over though. Third is just to continue to add strength. He's a pretty physically immature kid, so this is something that should undergo a transformation over the next two years. Fully healthy, I'm expecting him to be in the 80+ point range next year.

2. Mac Hollowell - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Hollowell definitely has to be classified as a personal favourite of mine. You'd be hard pressed to find a player who has worked as hard to improve himself over his OHL career as Hollowell. He met the lofty expectations that I had placed on him (contending for OA and defender of the year as he went over a point per game). He is undersized, but he's so steady at both ends and he outworks bigger forwards at the OHL level so his size never really prevented him from being an impact player. One thing that really improved this year was his shot. Scored more goals this past year than he did his other OHL seasons combined. Thought he had really worked on both his release and his footwork to be ready to shoot when opportunities arise. And of course, his mobility is a big asset in terms of finding space in the offensive zone. Was also great to see him earn a spot in the AHL playoffs as someone that Sheldon Keefe could trust. That trust should only grow next year, even with Toronto (AHL)'s insane amount of depth. The biggest adjustment for Hollowell will obviously be the size and strength of pro players. In the OHL, he defends fine because, again, he is a real bulldog out there who just never backs down. Think of him like Rudy. But in the AHL, it will need to be more than that. He won't be able to just rely on hustle and tenacity to win battles, especially near the crease. I do think that Hollowell will eventually be an NHL defender and I could easily see him over the 30 point mark as an AHL rookie next year, depth, learning curve, and all.

3. Semyon Der Arguchintsev - Peterborough Petes
Unfortunately, this was really not a strong season for SDA in Peterborough. Last year I wrote, "The rest of his game is a work in progress. His skating needs to get better. His play without the puck needs to get better. He needs to become more confident in using his shot. His play in all three zones needs to improve." Well...I would say that all of those things are still glaring weaknesses that need to improve for him to become a consistent impact player in the OHL...let alone the pro level a year from now. He still is so physically immature (I would go as far as to say that he makes Nick Robertson look like an old man). And that obviously plays a part. But he needs to find a way to add bulk and strength to his frame (not always the easiest thing for some guys). This is preventing his shot from being a weapon, as it's just not hard and really not a threat. As such, he has become a pass first player to a fault, and defenders know this. They keep him to the outside and neutralize his puck skill by driving him to the wall where he does not have the strength to maintain possession. So the question is, can SDA turn things around next year? Obviously, this is still possible. He's a very talented kid. And Peterborough should be a strong team with some good size to help insulate him. However, given his skill level and style of play, I would say that he needs to be in the 25/55 - 80+ point range in order for the season to be a success...even if he already has a contract from the Leafs.