The Leafs have made a couple of trades lately, and of course had some goalie adventures on the waiver wire early this season, so it’s past time to update the depth chart and the pipeline list.

First up is the pipeline. Normally, it’s all players who the Leafs still hold draft rights to but haven’t signed, but since he’ll be in junior hockey for quite a while, I’ve left Semyon Der Arguchintsev on here:

The Pipeline List is available on the web here if that is easier to read.

Maple Leafs Pipeline List December 7, 2018

NameBirthdatePos2017/2018 Team2018/2019 TeamRights Expire
Martins DzierkalsApril 4, 1997LWOrlando Solar Bears, ECHLDinamo Riga, KHL/Liepaja LatviaJune 1, 2019
Ian ScottJanuary 11, 1999GPrince Albert Raiders, WHLPrince Albert Raiders, WHLJune 1, 2019
Fedor GordeevJanuary 27, 1999DFlint Firebirds, OHLFlint Firebirds, OHLJune 1, 2019
Ryan McGregorJanuary 29, 1999C/LWSarnia Sting, OHLSarnia Sting, OHLJune 1, 2019
Dakota JoshuaMay 15, 1996COhio State, NCAAOhio State, NCAAAugust 15, 2019
Mac HollowellSeptember 26, 1998DSault Ste Marie Greyhounds, OHLSault Ste Marie Greyhounds, OHLJune 1, 2020
Sean DurziOctober 21, 1998DOwen Sound Attack, OHLOwen Sound Attack, OHLJune 1, 2020
Zachary BouthillierNovember 8, 1999GChicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHLChicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHLJune 1, 2020
Riley StottsJanuary 5, 2000CCalgary Hitmen, WHLCalgary Hitmen, WHLJune 1, 2020
Semyon Der-ArguchintsevSeptember 15, 2000CPterborough Petes, OHLPeterboroough Petes, OHLNHL Contract - loaned to the OHL
J.D. GreenwayApril 27, 1998DU. of Wisconsin, NCAADubuque Fighting Saints, USHLAugust 15, 2020
Joseph WollJuly 12, 1998GBoston College, NCAABoston College, NCAAAugust 15, 2020
Pontus HolmbergMarch 9, 1999LW/CVIK Västeräs, Division 1Växjö HC, SHLJune 1, 2022
Filip KralOctober 20, 1999DSpokane Chiefs, WHLSpokane Chiefs, WHLJune 1, 2022
Ryan O'ConnellApril 25, 1999DPenticten Vees, BCHLOhio State, NCAAAugust 15, 2022
Eemeli RäsänenApril 6, 1999DKingston Frontenacs, OHLJokerit, KHLindefinite
Yegor KorshkovJuly 10, 1996RWLokomotiv, KHLLokomotiv, KHLIndefinite
Vladimir BobylevApril 18, 1997CToros Neftekamsk, VHL/MHLToros Neftekamsk, VHLIndefinite
Nikolai ChebykinAugust 1, 1997LWDynamo St. Petersburg, VHLToros Neftekamsk, VHLIndefinite
Vladislav KaraApril 20, 1998C/WBars Kazan, VHL/Ak Bars KHLAk Bars KHL/Bars Kazan VHLIndefinite
Semyon KizimovJanuary 19, 2000RWLada Togliatti, MHLLada Togliatti, VHLIndefinite

The bulk of the changes here were just team assignment for some Russian players. The most noticeable thing is the five players whose rights expire next summer.

Martins Dzierkals turned down an AHL deal because he didn’t want any ECHL time, and his chances of ever getting a contract has dwindled to nothing.

Ian Scott is ripping up the WHL, and the only question is why hasn’t he got a contract yet. My bet is it will come right after the WJC.

Fedor Gordeev is hard to judge, seeing as he plays on a very terrible team, but I’m betting he gets offered an AHL deal this summer.

Ryan McGregor seems likely to be a no contract as well, but you never know what a good junior season can do for you.

Dakota Joshua is a total mystery to me, and you’d do better to check in on the North American Prospects report next time to see how he’s doing.

Two other names to watch are the overaged Sean Durzi and Mac Hollowell. Both could be in the AHL next year, even though their rights run to the summer of 2020.

We all thought this year would be the deciding year for Yegor Korshkov, the highest drafted player on this list, but he’s missed almost the entire season so far, so he remains a big question mark still.

The Depth Chart is only players on the Leafs or Marlies on NHL contracts. It is loosely arranged by natural position and depth (yes, I know Ron Hainsey plays his offside). It leans heavily to current NHL-readiness and usage, so you’ll see a few very good, but very young prospects well down the list. There’s too many left wings on the Marlies now, so some of them will play the right side a lot. Most of them seem to switch up sides fairly easily. Trevor Moore is really more of a left wing, but he’s not going to see any time on that side right now.

You can view it on the web here.

Maple Leafs Depth Chart, December 7, 2018

CLWRWD - LD - RG
Auston MatthewsZach HymanMitch MarnerMorgan RiellyNikita ZaitsevFrederik Andersen
John TavaresPatrick MarleauWilliam NylanderJake GardinerIgor OzhiganovGarret Sparks
Nazem KadriAndreas JohnssonKasperi KapanenRon HainseyTimothy LiljegrenKasimir Kaskisuo
Par LindholmTyler EnnisConnor BrownTravis DermottJustin HollEamon McAdam
Frederik GauthierCarl GrundstromTrevor MooreMartin MarincinJordan Subban-
Adam BrooksMason MarchmentAdam CracknellCalle RosenVincent LoVerde-
Chris MuellerMichael CarconeJeremy BraccoRasmus SandinJesper Lindgren-
Josh JoorisPierre Engvall-Andreas Borgman--
-Dmytro Timashov----
-Morgan Klimchuk----

This shows the arrival of the two new Marlies on NHL contracts, both left wings, although Carcone plays some centre as well. It also marks the end of the tenure of Josh Leivo and Andrew Nielsen.  I shifted the switch-hitting Tyler Ennis to the left, because he seems fixed there now with Leivo gone, and he is a left shot.

The centre depth is very shallow at the bottom end, and I could make it look better by putting Adam Cracknell in as a centre, but he’s played a lot of wing in the AHL. At some point, the Leafs really do need to get a centre prospect who is a little closer to the NHL than SDA. The wings are all left, which is likely wise, and the right-side defence looks great at the AHL level. The left-side defence in the AHL/press box would all be top four on the Sens.

The goalie situation is what it is at the moment.

Maple Leafs Prospects