All but one of the leagues in which Toronto's prospects are playing have finished their regular seasons. One of them has already started their playoffs. As I did last year, I will share some updates on the players still alive for their respective championship runs every couple of weeks.

The only prospects not still active in the playoffs at this point are Moldenhauer and Miller in the NCAA, so there's a lot to get through.

Victor Johansson

Johansson's team in Sweden's top junior league, Leksands, finished as the top seed. The way the playoffs in that league works, the top seeds can choose their opponent each round. Leksands actually already finished their first playoff round, pulling off a two game sweep in the best of three. Johansson was solid in both games, but more flashy and noticeable in the first game where he had an assist and was a transition machine.

The second round is starting this week, also a best of three:

Game 1 – Wednesday March 26th at 2:00 pm EST

Game 2 – Friday March 28th @ 2:00 pm EST

Game 3 – Saturday March 29th @ 8:00 am EST

Alexander Plesovskikh

Plesovskikh's team finished as the winner of their division, and he had a strong stretch with 20 points in 19 games. His season stats look okay, but not spectacular for a D+1 player: 17 goals and 41 points in 52 games in the MHL, and two games up with the VHL team.

The way the MHL playoffs work, the top seeds get a bye for the first play-in round. So Plesovskikh's playoff schedule won't be known for another week until the play-in round is complete.

Timofei Obvintsev

This is tough to say. Obvintsev still hasn't played in a game since December. When he's dressed in a game as a backup, it's been with his VHL team, but that's only been now and then. The VHL team finished dead last in the league, so they won't be in any playoffs. So on the off chance he winds up being sent back with the MHL team and maybe gets in some games, I'll talk about their playoff situation. Krasniya Armiya qualified as the top seed in the play-in round which is a best of three but only the first two games are scheduled.

Game 1 – Wednesday March 26th at 10:00 am EST

Game 2 – Saturday March 29th at 6:00 am EST

Easton Cowan

For the second straight year, London finished the regular season as the top seed in the entire OHL by a good margin, and will be favourites to repeat as OHL champions. While Cowan didn't finish with as good a point pace as he did last year (1.5 points per game vs 1.78), he was still one of the best players on the team and in the league. He did fight some injuries off and on through the season, and he was really turning it on down the stretch – 24 points in his final 10 games.

They'll face Owen Sound in the first round, with the series kicking off on Friday. Expect this series to be over very quickly.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th at 7:05 pm EST

Game 2 – Sunday March 30th at 6:05 pm EST

Game 3 – Tuesday April 1st at 7:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Thursday April 3rd at 7:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Friday April 4th at 7:05 pm EST

Game 6 – Sunday April 6th at 2:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Tuesday April 8th at 7:05 pm EST

Ben Danford

Oshawa finished much like last year, as one of the better teams in the much weaker conference in the OHL. They finished fourth in points in their conference, but had the exact same amount of points as the 2nd and 3rd place teams, and only five back of 1st place. Danford's season finished similar to how Cowan's went – he didn't have the same level of production as the previous season, but his underlying data looks like he made some small improvements across the board.

Oshawa will be playing Brantford, the 5th seed in the conference, who will likely be a tough out considering how many top prospects they have. It will also likely have a lot of mutual hostility considering how many fights and suspensions there have already been between the two teams this year.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th at 7:05 pm EST

Game 2 – Sunday March 30th at 6:05 pm EST

Game 3 – Tuesday April 1st at 7:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Thursday April 3rd at 7:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Friday April 4th at 7:05 pm EST

Game 6 – Sunday April 6th at 2:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Tuesday April 8th at 7:05 pm EST

Sam McCue

McCue had a strong D+1 year that showed a lot of improvement from his previous season. He doubled his goal and point rates and became one of the better net-front goal scorers in the league when it comes to deflections, rebounds, and shots from in close. He still has a long way to go, but he has some interesting if highly specific and situational skills to build on.

Since he was traded to Flint, they get to face the 3rd seeded Kitchener Rangers. Despite being the third seed, they had the second best record in the entire OHL, behind only London. It will be an uphill battle and I'd expect Flint to get ousted pretty quick.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th at 7:00 pm EST

Game 2 – Sunday March 30th at 2:00 pm EST

Game 3 – Tuesday April 1st at 7:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Thursday April 3rd at 7:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Friday April 4th at 7:00 pm EST

Game 6 – Sunday April 6th at 4:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Tuesday April 8th at 7:00 pm EST

Noah Chadwick

Chadwick is yet another player in Toronto's system that didn't seem to make any huge strides in his game, neither in terms of point production, his underlying data, or from the eye test. He was still among the best overall defensemen in the league, but at the bottom end of that tier.

Lethbridge tried to load up at the deadline to make a playoff push, but finished 4th in the division. They will face Brandon as the 5th seed in the first playoff round. I'll lean Lethbridge, since they're the better defensive team, but it will likely be close.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th at 9:00 pm EST

Game 2 – Saturday March 29th at 8:00 pm EST

Game 3 – Tuesday April 1st at 8:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Wednesday April 2nd at 8:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Friday April 4th at 9:00 pm EST

Game 6 – Sunday April 6th at 5:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Tuesday April 8th at 9:00 pm EST

Miroslav Holinka

Holinka had an up and down season, his first in the CHL after being drafted by Toronto. When fully healthy and given a bigger role, he was solid – not flashy or spectacular, but was a reliable two way centre who could score and be responsible. But his role fluctuated pretty often, and he had a few stints where he missed small chunks of time from injuries. Between being hurt, Toronto's training camp and the World Juniors, he only played in 47 games but had a respectable 19 goals and 45 points.

Edmonton was a rebuilding team, and finished as the 7th seed. However, the 2nd seed in their conference only had 6 more points because they won their very weak division - Prince Albert by points would be the 4th seed, not the second. Again, Edmonton is the better defensive team and seem to be fully healthy going into the playoffs, so I would not be surprised if they pull off the 'upset'.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th at 9:00 pm EST

Game 2 – Saturday March 29th at 9:00 pm EST

Game 3 – Tuesday April 1st at 9:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Wednesday April 2nd at 9:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Friday April 4th at 9:00 pm EST

Game 6 – Sunday April 6th at 6:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Tuesday April 8th at 9:00 pm EST

Borya Valis

Toronto's newest addition to the prospect pool finished with 34 goals and 80 points in 66 games. He was playing between the first and second line, often used like a Knies or McMann in terms of his size and role while playing with the big play drivers.

Prince George finished as the 4th seed, and will face the 5th seeded Portland Winterhawks. Despite being close in terms of standings positions, Prince George finished 12 points higher in terms of record, have much better stats as a team (goal differential, special teams), and have a lot more big names for prospects compared to a rebuilding Portland team. On paper, it should be an easy series for Valis' team.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 2 – Saturday March 29th @ 9:00 pm EST

Game 3 – Tuesday April 1st @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Wednesday April 2nd @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Friday April 4th @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 6 – Sunday April 6th @ 9:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Monday April 7th @ 10:00 pm EST

Nathan Mayes

Mayes became my biggest pleasant surprise prospect this year, even if he didn't have the huge offensive breakout like Cowan or Chadwick have had. He played a reliable defensive game but had some surprising flashes of offensive and puck moving ability, and some nice looking underlying tracking data. He did double his production from the previous season while playing going from 16 to 27 points in while playing a dozen fewer games.

Spokane as a team really loaded up at the deadline for a big push. They acquired the league leader in points, Andrew Cristall, to go with the third best producer they already had in Berkly Catton. They have the second best offense, fifth best defense, the best powerplay, third best penalty kill, and the fifth best record overall. They are undoubtedly one of the favourites to win the WHL championship along with Everett, Medicine Hat, and Calgary Hitmen. Their first round will be against a young Vancouver Giants team, and on paper should be a quick win for Spokane.

Game 1 – Friday March 28th @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 2 – Sunday March 30th @ 7:00 pm EST

Game 3 – Wednesday April 2nd @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 4 – Thursday April 3rd @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 5 – Saturday April 5th @ 9:00 pm EST

Game 6 – Monday April 7th @ 10:00 pm EST

Game 7 – Wednesday April 9th @ 10:00 pm EST

Hudson Malinoski

When it comes to the NCAA, only one team with a Toronto prospect have qualified for their big tournament: Hudson Malinoski's team, Providence. Michigan wound up being the last team to miss the cut after all of the conference playoffs concluded and their ranking systems established the final 16 teams.

Malinoski finished with more goals (11) and points (23) and a lot fewer penalties taken compared to his freshman season last year, playing more or less the same role as their 2C. He finished tied for the lead in both goals and points on his team as well, and he was hot down the stretch, with 7 goals and 11 points in his final 11 games.

Their first game will be against the defending NCAA champions, Denver, on Friday April 28th at 5:30 pm EST. Denver will be the favourites, but not overwhelmingly so. Malinoski will have to continue his hot play to help them pull off the upset.