Leafs Prospect Update: October 7, 2013

The Leafs Prospect Update is a weekly feature that will run the duration of the season, checking in on the organization’s prospects, their successes, and their struggles. We’ll do our best to offer a wide variety of insight and analysis on all Leafs prospects around the world, and not spend the entire article gushing over Fabrice Herzog. Moving on…

We’ll kick off this week’s prospect rundown with none other than the sensational Fabrice Herzog, who’s been a solid performer for the Remparts so far this season. In fact, Herzog was the only Quebec player to find the back of the net yesterday, scoring twice in a 3-2 loss to Blainville-Boisbriand.

That’s 5 goals and 8 points in 9 games for the Leafs’ 5th round pick back in June – a solid start for a player still adjusting to the North American game. Herzog had 45 points in 32 games for Zug’s U20 squad last year, and for some stupid reason wasn’t listed in TLN’s Top Twenty Prospect feature last month.

Staying in the Q, Frederik Gauthier is off to a noticeably slow start. Heralded for his defensive play, many (including Leafs management) are looking for a big year offensively from the 2013 first rounder. Well, no goals and five assists in seven games isn’t awful, but it isn’t good either. Say what you will about his play away from the puck, but going scoreless in seven games raises some red flags.

But he fought this guy, so there’s that.

In the OHL, Connor Brown finds himself near the top of the leader boards thanks to a two goal, two assist Saturday night in an 8-4 with over North Bay. Brown’s performance was so good, he earned Buzzing The Net’s #1 Star of the Night. (It’s a good article written by a handsome man who may or may not be my boss here at TLN).

Brown, who we ranked the 18th best Leafs prospect, has six goals and 13 points in only six games. You can expect some pretty lofty numbers from the Erie captain this year, as the team is stacked with some high-end offensive talent that shouldn’t let up. 

Over in Sweden, Andreas Johnson has been tearing it up for the Frolunda Indians. No shame if you don’t know who Johnson is – he was the Leafs’ 7th round pick, 202nd overall back in June. That’s why it’s so surprising to see an 18-year old leading his SHL team in scoring with six goals and nine points in only nine games, tying 5th in league goal scoring and 10th in points.  

Carter Verhaeghe is also off to a great start with the Niagara Ice Dogs. In seven games, Verhaeghe has found the net five times, and added six assists. Verhaeghe is now a key player for a team that went through a mass exodus of talent in the offseason, and will be relied upon to continue putting up big points.

Lastly, another round of applause for Fabrice Herzog. He’s just great, isn’t he?