DISTRACTION! Leafs Announce Prospect Camp Roster

(Photo: @GSparks40)

Earlier today, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the full roster for their upcoming Prospect Camp, comprised of 18 forwards, 12 defencemen, and four goaltenders.

Of the 34 total invitees, 22 are current Leafs property –  Antoine Bibeau, Tyler Biggs, David Broll, Connor Brown, Tony Cameranesi, Matt Finn, Frederik Gauthier, Petter Granberg, Fabrice Herzog, Andreas Johnson, Eric Knodel, Josh Leivo, Viktor Loov, Andrew MacWilliam, Tom Nilsson, Stuart Percy, Morgan Rielly, Dennis Roberston, Ryan Rupert, Garret Sparks, Dominic Toninato and Carter Verhaeghe.

The most exciting part of Prospect Camp, of course, is the non-Leaf invitees that are trying to get noticed and earn a contract. This year’s crop, to be honest, isn’t terribly exciting.

Returning to Prospect Camp this year, Matt Rupert (London, OHL) has been closely linked to the Leafs ever since they drafted his twin brother, Ryan, with their 6th round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Matt went undrafted in Sunday’s draft, making him the most likely to become a Leaf out of the group.

Another somewhat familiar name is Christopher Gibson, a goaltender and former Los Angeles second round draft pick who’s rights were lost after the Kings didn’t offer him a contract. Ranked second among domestic goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting in 2011, Gibson’s form dropped considerably in the two years since he was drafted, finishing last season with a 17-18-4 record and a 3.08 GAA and .902 SV% for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. 

Kevin Goumas, a 21-year old undrafted free agent forward, lead his NCAA New Hampshire Wildcats in scoring with 10 goals and 42 points in 38 games. I assume the Leafs sent their invite to the wrong guy, as one "Trevor van Riemsdyk" scored 33 points in 39 games for the Wildcats this year… as a defenceman. Apparently the only defender Leafs scouts were watching was the aforementioned Knodel.

Mike Kunzle stands out from other invitees, or at least a few inches above them. The 6’5, 205lb winger from the GC Kusnacht Lions of the National League B scored 15 goals and 21 points in 30 games this past season. He added three goals and an assist in six games while representing Switzerland at the 2013 World Juniors.

Goaltender Charlie Millen of the CCHL’s Ottawa Jr. Senators also got an invite. He’s Greg’s kid. That’s about as interesting as he gets.

Other invitees include Matt Bellerive (Red Deer, WHL), Dominik Bittner (Mannheim, GER), Josh Burnside (Mississauga, OHL), Teddy Doherty (Boston College, NCAA), Mack Lemmon (Niagara, OHL), Beau McCue (Tri-City, WHL), and Kevin Raine (London, OHL).

Jim Hughes, Leafs Director of Player Development, and his staff will run the July 9th to 12th camp, hoping to find the next Mikhail Grabovski.

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