Leafs prospects you followed closely who became absolutely nothing

[Stringer Bell]

Who are some leafs prospects (some dark horses) you followed closely and had high hopes for who became absolutely nothing?

Robbie Earl - was always reading very good things about him. Had a great College career when our depth was bad.

Chad Rau - I was more of a stat watcher than anything else. I couldn't understand why we weren't more excited by the points he was putting up in the NCAA.

Tyler Ruegsegger - I remember us following him thinking he was really something. He played in the world juniors and couldn't even hack it in the ECHL.

Chris Didomenico - Oh we were all in love with this guy. I remember a pretty big knee injury derailed him but in retrospect he was probably never going to be what we hoped or thought he could be.

Mikhail Stefanovich - Not sure there has been one that's put more egg on all our faces. Once again, not even much in the ECHL.

Jesse Blacker - his first rookie tournament I was amazed. His first Leafs preseason game I was convinced he was a future top 4.

Josh Nicholls - I was incredibly impressed with his stats jump post draft year. Shows how little stats mean.

Petter Granberg - I remember the excitement.

Andrew Nielsen - yeah...

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[leafers]

Matt Finn

 

[Ciao]

Fred Gauthier

 

[LaPlante94]

Stuart Percy - I think he would've became something pretty good if not for injuries.

Sondre Olden - Was probably more wishful thinking since we were desperate for a top C around that time.

Justin Pogge - Hard not to get hyped for a goalie who played so well at the World Juniors.

Tuuka Rask - Don't want to talk about it.

Brad Ross - I thought/was hoping he'd become our next Darcy Tucker and he had a good career in the WHL.

Tom Nilsson - Wasn't a bad skater and could move the puck and hit like a truck which sounded very promising for a D prospect.

These are just some I remember.

 

[Richardbro]

Jeremy Bracco, I still think he could have been a 50-60 point guy in this league...

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Some of the 2011-12 Marlies I suppose:

Holzer, Fraser, Frattin, Blacker, Colborne, Aulie, etc.

 

[Knies iT]

Had high hopes for Mark Owuya’s Swedish rap career.

Those were desperate times where posters were enthralled with a C prospect.

Remember some of the low key names like Marcel Mueller, Andrew MacWilliam, Tom Nilsson, Christian Hanson, etc. Was always a Jesse Blacker guy.

 

[Mess]

Jeremy Williams -Leafs never really gave him a chance.

 

[Cor]

I thought the Rupert Twins were gonna turn into solid energy players for us, even if just on the fourth line.

 

[Anthrax442]

Jerome Flaake,
Stefanovich,
Korshkov,
(What is ) Loov

 

[MAB1]

- Thought Reimer was destined to be a top 10 goalie after his first 3 years with the Leafs. They didn't play defence at all and he would usually save the day. Wonder how different his career would've turned out if they didn't choke in 2013.

- Thought Gauthier was going to be a future shutdown 3C that could get selke votes...LOL

- Matt Frattin looked good on that Kadri-Lupul line but never progressed.

 

[DragoGrizzly]

Jerome Flaake,
Stefanovich,
Korshkov,
(What is ) Loov

Oh man I remember thinking Flaake was going to surprise a lot of people and was going to be an impact player for us. And that’s why I’m not a scout.

 

[LeafChief]

Jerry D'amigo!

 

[Mitch nylander]

Andrew Nielsen, thought he'd be special after that WHL season.

Brandon Kozun, thought he was gonna be a hell of a player after that pre-season.

Victor Loov, had a pretty great call-up.

 

[Dayjobdave]

I first came to hfboards to get the scoop on Luca Caputi

 

[Buds17]

Jussi Rynnas
Staffan Kronwall
Brandon Convery

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Mikhail Stefanovich

 

[Judas Tavares]

Great thread. I too was excited about Rau and Ruegsegger. Brent Aubin too!

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

You need hobby if you follow prospects closely. The turn around % doesn't make it worth it unless it's a marner nylander Kadri etc

I'll just take the nhl professionals word for it for any other kind.

 

[leafsfan5]

- Thought Reimer was destined to be a top 10 goalie after his first 3 years with the Leafs. They didn't play defence at all and he would usually save the day. Wonder how different his career would've turned out if they didn't choke in 2013.

- Thought Gauthier was going to be a future shutdown 3C that could get selke votes...LOL

- Matt Frattin looked good on that Kadri-Lupul line but never progressed.

All I will remember him for is the missed breakaway when it was 4-2

 

[TMLeafer]

Jeremy Williams -Leafs never really gave him a chance.

Ah man I remember he had a nice shot and scored the first 3 or 4 times he was called up over a span of a couple of years. Thought he was going to be great

 

[Duffman955]

STuart Percy man... he was awesome, too bad for the injuries

 

[BertCorbeau]

Peter Holland

 

[Mess]

80 goals and 149 points in 70 games in his draft year and 91 goals and 180 points in D+1 in 63 games.

 

[Clyde Brewer]

- Thought Reimer was destined to be a top 10 goalie after his first 3 years with the Leafs. They didn't play defence at all and he would usually save the day. Wonder how different his career would've turned out if they didn't choke in 2013.

I thought Reimer was "just ok".