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Maple Leafs Prospect Roundup: Haymes stays hot, Buhr records first pro point
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Photo credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
Nick Richard
Mar 25, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 25, 2026, 09:43 EDT
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With the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ season winding down, and little to hope for beyond a slide down the standings that will allow them to keep their 2026 first-round pick, it’s become more and more difficult for fans to find reasons to tune in. From the perspective of Leafs management, the primary objectives in these last few weeks should be research and development. It is obvious that this roster needs to undergo significant changes before next season, but what pieces do they have in place that can be a part of the solution?
Easton Cowan has put together a solid rookie season, and he has taken advantage of increased opportunity down the stretch, notching the first multi-point game of his career with a goal and an assist against the Senators on Saturday. Bo Groulx has stepped in and given the Leafs some real quality minutes in what might be his last chance to prove he belongs in the NHL. Jacob Quillan has played limited minutes and is yet to record his first NHL point, but his speed and tenacity look like a fit on an NHL fourth line. These are the kinds of players the Leafs should be leaning on down the stretch as they set the table for future seasons. There are a couple of other players with the Marlies who could be worth taking a look at as the schedule winds down, and Luke Haymes is at the top of that list.
Signed as an undrafted free agent last spring, Haymes hit the ground running, scoring two goals and four assists in nine games as the Marlies closed out their season. He followed that up with a strong showing in his first NHL training camp, but it didn’t translate to a great start in his first full season of pro hockey, and he only managed two goals and five assists in his first 17 games of the season. That was followed by an eight-game dry spell that saw him go without a point, but he has turned it on in a big way during the second half – especially over the last few weeks.
After going three games without a point, Haymes notched a goal and two assists against Hartford on Saturday, and added another helper against Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, bringing him up to four goals and four assists in his last ten games. For the season, he’s got 16 goals and 14 assists in 59 games, with 14 of those goals and nine of those assists coming in the last 34 games.
With the Marlies in the midst of their own playoff push, the organization won’t want to deplete their lineup entirely, but Haymes has earned an opportunity with his performance in recent weeks. Set to turn 23 in July, the Leafs should be eager to see what he can do against NHL competition as they play out the stretch of a lost season.

Notes from the rest of the prospect pool:

  • Tyler Hopkins returned to Guelph’s lineup on Friday after missing seven games with a concussion, and looked like he didn’t miss a beat. He fired seven shots on goal and scored his 25th goal of the season as the Storm doubled up the Owen Sound Attack 6-3. He was held off the scoresheet in their regular season finale on Saturday, but he will be a key figure in their postseason run when they get underway against Windsor in the first round.
  • Artur Akhtyamov continued his run of strong play against Hartford on Saturday, stopping 36 of the 39 shots he faced in a 6-3 win. In 33 appearances for the Marlies this season, the Russian netminder has a record of 19-10-6 to go along with a 2.86 GAA and a .904 SV%.
  • Like Haymes, William Villeneuve is pushing for a late-season look with the big club, and he has been hot in recent games. With a pair of assists against Hartford on Saturday and another against Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, Villeneuve is riding a six-game point streak. For the season, he’s got three goals and 24 assists in 54 games.
  • Ryan Tverberg has turned it on for the Marlies as of late as well. He scored against Hartford on Saturday and added a helper against Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, giving him four goals and four assists in his last six games. For the season, Tverberg has posted 12 goals and 17 assists in 55 games. The upside is limited, but Tverberg has some attributes that are desirable on an NHL fourth line, and he has shown a bit of offensive touch as well.
  • After a disappointing sophomore season, Nick Moldenhauer has had a big bounce-back season for the Michigan Wolverines as a junior. Michigan took on Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament final on Saturday, and Moldenhauer made a great play to steal the puck and score an empty-netter to help clinch the tournament title, bringing him up to 14 goals and 15 assists in 37 games. With the Wolverines set to begin the NCAA tournament as the number one seed this coming weekend, Moldenhauer has his sights set on a national title, but an entry-level contract with the Leafs could become a reality whenever Michigan’s run comes to an end.
  • Newly signed forward Brandon Buhr made his pro debut with the Marlies on Saturday, lining up at right wing on the third line, and recorded his first AHL point on Sunday. His combination of size and speed should make the adjustment to pro hockey easier than it might be for some, and he will be a player to watch down the stretch and hopefully, into the AHL playoffs.
Statistics from EliteProspects.com
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