Few players come into a franchise with the expectations that Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner or William Nylander brought to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Today’s rosters are populated with those who toiled away under the radar, ripening with time before stepping onto the NHL stage.
For those who look carefully, the successes of these players are often foretold in the developmental steps they take prior to their debuts. Even extraordinary talents such as Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson can remain overlooked until given the opportunity to showcase their talents in the NHL.
This season, the products of strong drafting are beginning to take shape for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as a trio of prospects have seen their respective games rise to new levels.