Toronto Maple Leafs - 2022 Entry Draft - 3rd Rd Pick (95th OA) - Nicholas Moldenhauer (RW)

[Anthrax442]

From post #46 above, first tweet.

"He lost 15 lbs from an illness that caused him to miss training camp"

I did not know this. Look at Willy when he missed camp he played way below projected (for his skills) that whole season. This kid on top of missing camp lost 15Lbs! 15Lbs! Kid still recovered and put up a good year.

I can see why management may think there is more there.

Didnt Liljegren drop because of Mono?

 

[Tarmore]

Didnt Liljegren drop because of Mono?

You are correct he did.

 

[Morgs]

C/W - Nicholas Moldenhauer - 18.3 - 5'11" - 168lbs - Chicago Steel

D0 - 41GP, 18G, 1.05PPG, 10.52 Adj.NHLe (49th of 172)

Here's a guy that came out of nowhere for me in the middle of this season. Since he played for the Steel I caught a game or two of his when I watched Joe Miller and I wondered who he was. Early in the season I saw decent production, but again he came out of nowhere with his D-1 playing in a league (AYHL) I don't track and with mediocre numbers in 6 games with the Steel. This guy can flat out play though and what's even crazier is he not only didn't he play top-line all season (blocked by MIller/Fantilli) he also came back this season after spending months in the hospital losing a ton of weight, but he also got cut with a skate in his face and STILL managed to put up over a 1PPG in the USHL. Now granted it is the Steel, so we're talking about the most stacked team in the league besides the USDP, but here are the U18 players that had a better PPG this season in the USHL alone (20GP+):

Logan Cooley, Frank Nazar, Adam Fantilli, Isaac Howard, Rutger McGroarty, Cutter Gauthier, Lane Hutson. Uh, yeah that's some pretty good company. The reason I didn't have him higher (90th) was essentially because this is a guy that's played 47 games at a respectable level of hockey, and I question how real the season was going forward. Massive massive potential with what we've seen so far, but he could just as easily wash out with his rates being so damn sky high. He also has no commitment to a NCAA team, so we have no idea what he's going to be doing next year. Maybe playing with Ty Voit in Sarnia? He could use some help.

As for the player himself the puck skills are the main standout for me. Nasty passes, quick moves in tight, and has the "eyes on the back of his head" type of IQ you question how he saw the lane open up. Also has a disgusting shot that he doesn't use *AT ALL* (71 shots in 41 games). The production really comes from quality more than it does quantity, and usually that's not a great sign for a player in low levels. Typically quantity trumps the quality because it means they're consistently able to put themselves in a posistion to score, where as with a guy like Moldenhauer they scored on everything when he was on the ice. The skating didn't feel like an issue, but I also don't remember it wowing me. I also have no recollection of his defense/transition play, but based on Mitch Brown's microstats he was in the 35th percentile for transition and 65th for defensive play. I'm very interested to see what he does next year as if he's in the O or plays for the Steel again we should hope he takes on C duties, but I'd also be very happy if he can end up playing on a guy like Voit's wing.

Another guy who I wouldn't have taken at the spot (Jordan Dumais the pick after stings), but he's another guy I was interested in. He definitely was a guy I flagged as a potential riser this upcoming season, but he just didn't have enough history for me to warrant being listed higher.

 

[fahad203]

Really like this pick. I think he has the biggest upside out of all the players we drafted

 

[Brock]

I really like Moldenhauer. He's what I said for the McKeen's Draft Guide:

McKeen's 2022 NHL Draft Guide - A former U16 USA Champion with the North Jersey Avalanche and former teammate of Sudbury’s Kocha Delic with the Toronto Titans of the GTHL, Nick Moldenhauer is an extremely intriguing option available to NHL teams this year.


The start of the year was a disaster for Moldenhauer. Due to a leg injury, his USHL with Chicago didn’t really start until the end of November and upon his return, he struggled to make a consistent impact. It was obvious that the injury negatively impacted his ability to move and play with pace, a previous strength of his game. However, with each passing month Moldenhauer began to look more and more like himself and he finished the USHL season on an extremely high note. He had 24 points in the final 15 games of the year, and then carried that into the U18’s with Canada where he was a noticeable complementary piece on the team’s second line with Chicago teammate Adamn Fantilli.

Later in the year, we saw Moldenhauer’s ability to create in transition with his quickness and skill. He is a very strong skater in every facet, showing an ability to blow by defenders with a great top gear, but also great edgework that allows him to work East/West or cut on a dime. Moldenhauer is skilled enough to maintain possession at top speed, however he just needs to gain strength to be able to consistently play through traffic and checks. He can be too easily separated from the puck at times.

Moldenhauer is also a strong defensive player already, showing great awareness in the defensive zone, regardless of whether he is playing center or the wing. He lacks the strength to consistently win one on one battles or truly assert himself physically in the way that he seems to want to, but the potential is there for him to develop into a very effective role player. The question is, where will Moldenhauer play next year to aid in the development of his physical maturity? Currently without an NCAA commitment, there is some thought that he will play with Sarnia in the OHL (who traded for his rights this season). – BO

 

[WTFMAN99]

C/W - Nicholas Moldenhauer - 18.3 - 5'11" - 168lbs - Chicago Steel

D0 - 41GP, 18G, 1.05PPG, 10.52 Adj.NHLe (49th of 172)

Here's a guy that came out of nowhere for me in the middle of this season. Since he played for the Steel I caught a game or two of his when I watched Joe Miller and I wondered who he was. Early in the season I saw decent production, but again he came out of nowhere with his D-1 playing in a league (AYHL) I don't track and with mediocre numbers in 6 games with the Steel. This guy can flat out play though and what's even crazier is he not only didn't he play top-line all season (blocked by MIller/Fantilli) he also came back this season after spending months in the hospital losing a ton of weight, but he also got cut with a skate in his face and STILL managed to put up over a 1PPG in the USHL. Now granted it is the Steel, so we're talking about the most stacked team in the league besides the USDP, but here are the U18 players that had a better PPG this season in the USHL alone (20GP+):

Logan Cooley, Frank Nazar, Adam Fantilli, Isaac Howard, Rutger McGroarty, Cutter Gauthier, Lane Hutson. Uh, yeah that's some pretty good company. The reason I didn't have him higher (90th) was essentially because this is a guy that's played 47 games at a respectable level of hockey, and I question how real the season was going forward. Massive massive potential with what we've seen so far, but he could just as easily wash out with his rates being so damn sky high. He also has no commitment to a NCAA team, so we have no idea what he's going to be doing next year. Maybe playing with Ty Voit in Sarnia? He could use some help.

As for the player himself the puck skills are the main standout for me. Nasty passes, quick moves in tight, and has the "eyes on the back of his head" type of IQ you question how he saw the lane open up. Also has a disgusting shot that he doesn't use *AT ALL* (71 shots in 41 games). The production really comes from quality more than it does quantity, and usually that's not a great sign for a player in low levels. Typically quantity trumps the quality because it means they're consistently able to put themselves in a posistion to score, where as with a guy like Moldenhauer they scored on everything when he was on the ice. The skating didn't feel like an issue, but I also don't remember it wowing me. I also have no recollection of his defense/transition play, but based on Mitch Brown's microstats he was in the 35th percentile for transition and 65th for defensive play. I'm very interested to see what he does next year as if he's in the O or plays for the Steel again we should hope he takes on C duties, but I'd also be very happy if he can end up playing on a guy like Voit's wing.

Another guy who I wouldn't have taken at the spot (Jordan Dumais the pick after stings), but he's another guy I was interested in. He definitely was a guy I flagged as a potential riser this upcoming season, but he just didn't have enough history for me to warrant being listed higher.

I'd read his skating was questionable relative to his size.

 

[aingefan]

Liking the sounds of this kid, seems he battled plenty of adversity the past year.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

He definitely went through some shit to do work. Rooting extra for him just because of that alone lol

 

[FireBird71]

Sounds like he’s gonna end up in Ann Arbor…with an announcement this week

 

[DTR]

Sounds like he’s gonna end up in Ann Arbor…with an announcement this week