7 Maple Leaf, Watch on the 2025 Prospect Showdown – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf
The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed a 26-man squad consisting of 15 forwards, nine defenders and two goalkeepers to compete in the 2025 prospect showdown Tuesday (September 9). The Maple Leafs will face two teams in the game that will be held at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec. The first showdown will be against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 pm ET, and the second game will be against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, September 14 at 3:00 ET. The Winnipeg Jets will also play, but there are no scheduled games with the Maple Leafs.
While Toronto’s prospect pool doesn’t have a potential top six talent, the team has some interesting players to watch on the showdown:
C/W Easton Cowan, selected in Round 1 of 2023 (Overall No. 28)
Easton Cowan will draw most of the attention from the maple leaf side during the game. Unlike most potential clients in the organization, he has the highest upside potential at the NHL level. He is also responsible for defense while playing the body and stirring style. In 2024-25, the London Cavaliers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) scored 29 goals and 69 points in 46 games, then added 13 marks and a league-leading 39 points in 17 playoff games. His game helped the Cavaliers win the OHL championship. He also won the Stafford Smyth Trophy to become the most valuable player in the 2025 Memorial Cup after recording three games and four assists in five games.
Related: How Maple Leaf will deploy Easton Cowan this season
The 20-year-old striker may be impressed on the showdown and then compete for the roster with the Maple Leafs in the training camp. He is likely to start his 2025-26 campaign with Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL). Still, if he dominates the game, his confidence is great.
Ben Danford, D, selected in 2024 Round 1 (Overall No. 31)
In his first season as captain of the OHL OHL OHAWA general, Ben Danford scored five goals and 25 points in 61 regular season games in 2024-25. He added two goals and three assistants in 21 playoff games. He is 6-foot-2 and weighs 194 pounds and has a lot of steps while taking space from his opponents. He is known for his reliable, mobile, defensive blue liner.
He participated in the 2025 World Youth Summer Exhibition and will be participating in the roster of the 2026 Minnesota World Youth Championship with Canada. The 19-year-old is not eligible for the AHL yet, so he may return to the OHL for the 2025-26 campaign.
Jacob Quillan C/LW, not drafted
Jacob Quillan scored his first full season in the 2024-25 AHL, collecting 18 goals and 37 points in 67 appearances. He rebounded slowly from Marlies, scoring 15 points in 20 games to end the regular season. However, he did not compete in two playoff games.
He made his debut against the Senators on January 25 in the Maple Leafs, contributing a hit at 5:21 on Ice Time. His strong results in 2024-25 and his versatility should continue to serve him well. After being used in all cases during his college career at Quinnipiac, he can take on a larger role in Marlies in 2025-26. If he continues to move in the right direction, he should promote another promotion in the NHL.
Miroslav Holinka, C/W, selected in 2024 round 5 (151th overall)
Miroslav Holinka has scored 19 goals and 45 points in 47 games in the 2024-25 campaign. He has always maintained a consistent influence in the scoring film, while showing creativity with hockey and being able to play two-way games.
Holinka is the top six center for the Oil Kings and Czech champions in the 2024 World Junior Championships. The 19-year-old striker will likely start the 2025-26 sport with Marlies in the AHL, but he may be an NHL option if he continues to improve his all-round skills.
D Noah Chadwick
Noah Chadwick is a member of the WHL (East) All-Star team for 2024-25, creating 13 goals and 40 assists in 66 games, captaining the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He added seven marks and 14 points in 16 playoff games. He will make good use of excellent hockey skills while continuously exceeding 50 points of plateau.
The 20-year-old guard will join MARLIES this season and may be a Maple Leafs’ summoning option if his defensive game continues to improve. He has been a surprise since the draft year and it’s interesting how he performed in his rookie season professional game.
Luke Haymes, c/lw, not drafted
Although the injury was limited to 22 appearances, Luke Haymes contributed 12 goals and 18 points to Dartmouth College in 2024-25. He is a highly sought after free agent and eventually chose to sign a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs. He shines after joining Marlies for amateur trials for the rest of the season, contributing two goals and six points in nine games. However, he didn’t score a single point in two playoffs.
His work ethics and defensive instincts will make him a compelling prospect to monitor the AHL in this sport. He also has excellent shooting skills, which may make him a key contributor. The 22-year-old striker can debut with Maple Leafs in 2025-26, as his skills are perfect for the highest level.
G, Artur Akhtyamov of G, selected in 2020 Round 4 (106th in total)
Artur Akhtyamov scored 3 closings in Marlies in 2024-25, averaging 2.81 goals, averaging 2.81 goals, averaging 2.81 goals and a savings percentage of 0.901. From the beginning, he impressed himself, starting his AHL career with four consecutive outings. In his first three games, he stopped 80 of the 83 photos he faced. However, he encountered consistency issues later, and the injury to the lower body in January certainly did not help.
He will compete with Dennis Hildeby on the AHL in this sport. The 23-year-old Akhtyamov showed enough calm between the pipes to show his quick reflexes and the ability to hockey. He should get more game opportunities in 2025-26 and can make his NHL debut sometime this season.
Youth will be served
Unfortunately, Tinus-Luc Koblar, the second round of 2025 and 2024 fourth round draft pick Victor Johansson will not be participants in the 2025 prospect showdown. They are both preparing for their respective seasons in Sweden. Still, the tournament has a lot of talent, highlighted by top prospects Cowan and Danford. There will also be a lot of potential marriages on hand, ready to compete for the roster, just like the Maple Leaf members will do it soon when the camp opens.
With the lack of draft picks in the 2026 NHL admission draft, a competitive space has been created and the prospect of developing the organization this season is indispensable. If they are proven to be NHL-Calibre players, it will improve the lineup, whether they end up being long-term fit with Maple Leaf or being used as a trade component.
