Updating list of Toronto Maple Leafs development camp invites

We’re through the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, which means it’s development camp time. A majority of the league has already announced details regarding their camps and rosters, but it appears the Toronto Maple Leafs are delaying the start of their camp until after the start of free agency.

It was mentioned in Sportsnet’s draft summary that Leafs development camp will begin on Friday, and that would make sense given the lack of announcements so far.

That being said, individual collegiate and junior teams have been announcing which of their players are going to development camps, which has given us a few glimpses at who will be on the Maple Leafs dev camp roster.

We know that prospects whose rights are owned by Toronto will be attending camp, as will various players on AHL contracts, so here is an updating list of the free agent invites to Maple Leafs development camp.

Updates will be added at the bottom of the article.

The first team to announce invites that included a player attending Leafs camp was the Portland Winterhawks and right winger, Marcus Nguyen.

Nguyen was first-time eligible for the draft this year and was ranked at #148 on the consolidated list. He got a fair bit of love as a potential late-round swing, ranking in the top 100 on three lists:

A diminutive, speedy winger, Nguyen scored a notable amount at even-strength in the WHL despite playing minimal minutes and had good two-way results.

As one of the younger prospects eligible in 2022 (he’s an August 2004 birthdate) with promising totals this year, Nguyen is near the top of my list of invites that could earn an entry-level contract if they impress at development camp and later the rookie tournament.

Centre Sean McGurn went from an OHL fourth-liner in 2019-20 to the London Knights’ first-line centre in 2021-22 upon returning to action.

A seat alongside Nashville prospect @Luke Evangelista saw McGurn produce at over a point-per-game clip, scoring 20 goals and 73 points in 66 games. As a double overage prospect, that wasn’t enough to land him on any public draft rankings.

While McGurn’s massive jump in production and ice-time this year is a good sign for him individually, as a DY+2 prospect with an average primary point rate, he’s a longshot to earn a contract. He’ll go back to London for the 2022-23 season and be someone the Marlies may look at for an AHL contract next summer.

The Leafs are inviting three Arizona State transfers from Northeastern to development camp, beginning with Dylan Jackson.

The right-winger out of Oakville had a strong two-year career in the USHL with Dubuque before joining Northeastern in 2020. He’s yet to make much of an impact in the NCAA, scoring 17 points over 29 games in his two seasons. He’s a transfer with upside for Arizona State given his previous success in the USHL.

As a collegiate player, he won’t be a candidate to sign.

Dylan’s twin brother, Ty Jackson has had more success in the NCAA to this point than Dylan.

Smaller than Dylan, listed at just 5-foot-8 and 161 pounds, Ty had a similarly strong USHL tenure with Dubuque but has seen it translate to more success in the NCAA. Ty scored 20 points in 28 games this year with Northeastern, primarily coming at even-strength, and will be a major offensive pickup for Arizona State this year.

Again, as an NCAA player, Ty won’t be a candidate to sign either.

The third Northeastern transfer heading to Arizona State, T.J. Semptimphelter was fantastic filling in for Devon Levi when the Sabres’ top prospect was at the Olympics with Canada. He posted a .934 save percentage in eight appearances with Northeastern and is looking to parlay that showing into a starting gig with Arizona State.

An average-sized goaltender at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Semptimphelter is going to be a goaltender a lot of people keep an eye on this year as a breakout candidate with ASU. As a collegiate player, he’s not a candidate to sign.

The first OHL invite for the Maple Leafs is an intriguing one in Danish defenceman, Kasper Larsen.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, Larsen was one of the oldest DY+1 prospects as a September 2002 birthdate. Coming over to the OHL for his first season in North America this year, Larsen impressed, scoring 43 points in 57 games while playing quite well defensively.

Despite his size and strong play, his age deterred teams from spending a draft pick on him and he went undrafted a second time. He was only ranked by one outlet I tracked, coming in at #233 for Draft Prospects Hockey.

Interestingly, Mississauga rescinded Larsen’s rights prior to the CHL Import Draft and he will not be returning to the team. As a result, Larsen is not only an NHL free agent but does not have a place to play yet next season.

Just as the Leafs have done in the past with @Kristians Rubins and Sergei Sapego, I could easily see a scenario where the Marlies sign Larsen to an AHL contract out of development camp despite him still having junior eligibility. He’d be an intriguing, new project to bring into the organization.

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