Miroslav Holinka entered the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but he’s already forcing people to look twice.
The 20-year-old forward turned heads last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, where he put up 37 goals and 80 points in 59 games after posting 19 goals and 45 points in 47 games in his first year with the club. He also appeared in one game with the Toronto Marlies and recorded an assist.
That production has carried over to the prospect challenge, where Holinka is quickly becoming one of the names drawing the most attention around the Leafs.
During last night’s prospect challenge game against the Ottawa Senators, NHL agent Allan Walsh took notice and didn’t hold back on his view of the young forward. Walsh said Holinka is a "treat" for Leafs fans and that the forward is also "the real deal."
Toronto Maple Leaf fans are going to be in for a treat as they get to know forward Miroslav Holinka.
Those are strong words for a player who was viewed as more of a project when he was drafted, but Holinka has clearly moved faster than expected.
The Maple Leafs do have plenty of depth on the roster this season, yet there’s still a route for Holinka to get NHL time if things break right. A strong preseason could earn him meaningful minutes with the Marlies, and from there injuries could open the door for a call-up.
He still has work to do, and Toronto isn’t about to assume anything. But a 6-foot-2 forward who can score the way Holinka has is the kind of player that naturally gets attention.
For now, he’s one of the top prospects to watch as camp continues.
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Tinus Luc Koblar was another name that stood out, collecting three assists and playing with the kind of confidence that can change how a prospect is viewed heading into the next level. For a club trying to sort out which young players can push beyond a showcase setting and into real organizational plans, that kind of performance matters. It also leaves Toronto with at least one appealing question coming out of the weekend: how close Koblar is to carving out a place with the Marlies. [Read more 🡒]