Miroslav Holinka may be sitting eighth on Daily Faceoff’s Maple Leafs prospect list, but the path to Toronto could open faster than that ranking suggests.
The 151st overall pick in 2024 turned heads last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, putting together a breakout year that featured 37 goals and 80 points in just 59 games. That production was strong enough to earn him a look with the Marlies, where he got into one game and picked up his first professional point.
Now the question is how quickly that junior success translates to the next level. Holinka has already logged pro experience, owns a Calder Cup, and heads into 2026-27 with momentum from that big season behind him.
Daily Faceoff pointed to one clear area for growth, saying he needs to be a bit more physical. Using his 6-foot-2 frame that way is the right move for Holinka, especially if he wants to keep pushing up Toronto’s depth chart.
His versatility gives him another edge. He can play wing or centre, which leaves the role to Steve Sullivan to sort out depending on where he can help most. The expectation is that he could get a second- or third-line look, along with added power-play and penalty-kill time because of his two-way game.
There’s also a possible fit alongside Tinus Luc Koblar. If Koblar is Toronto’s 2C heading into the season, Holinka could slot on his wing and give the Maple Leafs another two-way presence. Another option would be to let Holinka anchor his own line, perhaps with Ryan Tverberg as a running mate.
Toronto’s centre depth makes the picture complicated, but it also gives Holinka a real opening if he keeps developing. Jacob Quillan and Cooper Williams are among the other names in the mix, and the Marlies also have Logan Shaw, Bo Groulx, Luke Haymes, Zack MacEwen, Henrik Rybinski, and Quillan able to handle centre. That means Holinka will have to show in camp that his game can hold up against NHL-level competition if he wants to jump ahead of more established options.
Still, the upside is clear. Holinka can be a defensively sound, offensively useful centre, and if Toronto sees him in the mold of a Nick Paul type, he could become the kind of big, reliable forward who can contribute in any situation. If the Marlies give him the chance to run his own offensive group and he can deliver while staying dependable in his own end, his trip to the Maple Leafs could come sooner rather than later.
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Leafs Have A New Prospect With A High Stakes Camp Battle
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Morgan Rielly Wants To Stay But His Leafs Role Is Changing
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What makes the conversation more interesting is that Riellys future in Toronto may not be defined by whether he stays, but by how he is used. With new faces such as Raddysh and Gavin McKenna entering the mix, his offensive load could look different, and his approaching 1,000th NHL game arrives at a moment when his responsibilities may be shifting. For a longtime cornerstone, that kind of change can be just as significant as any rumor. [Read more 🡒]