Miroslav Holinka’s climb has already made him one of the more intriguing names in Toronto’s prospect pool, even if the ceiling still comes with plenty of questions. The fifth-round pick is not being sold as a sure NHL regular, but among the Leafs prospects who might get there without sitting in the obvious top tier, he stands out.
Holinka is 20.64 as of July 1 and checks in at 6'2", 188 pounds. He shoots right, was drafted in 2024, and went 151st overall.
The reputation that followed him out of Czechia was pretty clear: a strong two-way center. That label stuck when he moved into the Edmonton Oil Kings’ lineup in the WHL, where he spent his D+1 season as a middle-six center and sometimes worked on the top power play, though more often he was on the second unit.
He ended that year just under a point per game, which is respectable but not eye-popping for a D+1 player. He also represented Czechia at the World Juniors that season.
His final junior year was a different story. Back with Edmonton, Holinka became the team’s top center and took on a heavy workload in every situation.
He finished as one of the WHL’s top offensive players, with goals standing out in particular. In the playoffs, he carried a big load again during a tight first-round series against Olsen and Williams’ Saskatoon Blades.
Edmonton lost in seven, but Holinka put up 7 goals and 11 points, leading the Oil Kings by four in both goals and points.
Still, the scoring burst doesn’t change the broader projection all that much. He has enough skill as a puck handler, shooter, and playmaker to chip in, but he probably won’t be known as a major offensive driver.
He was also one of the older players in the league, which matters when you’re trying to sort out how much of the production will carry forward. If he sticks in the NHL, the more likely path is as a bottom-six forward whose offense is a bonus, not the main selling point, with defensive play and puck-driving doing the heavy lifting.
A PP2 role would be part of that package.
There’s also a clear comparison point in Fraser Minten, though Holinka comes in as the cheaper version of that kind of player. The similarities are there in style and in the balance of strengths and weaknesses, but Holinka trails Minten in hockey sense, dynamic offensive ability, and the consistency of his physical game.
Now comes the real test. Holinka is headed to the Marlies, and that puts him in the same conversation as Quillan and Haymes.
This is his age-21 season, while those two were in the NCAA at the same stage and still another year away from signing NHL deals with the Leafs. That means Holinka is already a step ahead in the timeline.
The open question is whether he has another meaningful jump in him, or whether he settles into that in-between space as an AHL-NHL tweener instead of becoming a legitimate NHL depth option.
The voters were close on him. Everyone had Holinka between 7th and 9th, and the weighted average came out to 8.09.
Cathy, Hound Line, Shinson93, Cameron, Sclodiggity, and Svalbard38 all placed him 8th. Species, Brian S, and one other voter had him 7th, while Zone Entry, Hardev, and Adam put him 9th.
I had him 7th, right at the top of my third tier, which was a huge group stretching all the way down to 17th. For me, that put Holinka closer to Fellinger, whom I had 17th, than to Danford, who I ranked just ahead of him at 6th.
The other takes all pointed in a similar direction: there’s real intrigue here, but the next step has to come against pro competition. Shinson93 said, “Holinka has been fun to watch progress these past couple years.
He’s got a solid foundation of all around skill. He’s always had the defensive conscience, but has improved his play with the puck, both in skating and making plays in transition.
He also has a sneaky good shot. That provides a pretty solid floor.
To take another step, I need to see him be able to play and process the game at higher speeds. The AHL should give him that challenge.
I have him at the upper end of the range of guys like Quillan and Haymes but see potential to be a bit more with a longer runway.”
Sclodiggity was even more bullish on the offensive upside, saying, “A point-per-game player in the AHL at 20 years old! He’s a stud!
Haha. Holinka had one point in one game for the Marlies but does seem to have legit offensive upside to go along with a player otherwise billed as a two-way player.
His D+2 year for the Oil Kings was strong (and extremely good for a 5th round pick), but next year on the Marlies will give much better context. I’m hoping he lands on the 2nd line and has an opportunity for more offensive growth, but its also possible he’s a bottom six-er and ask to play a defensive system.
Both offer opportunities for growth.”
Svalbard38 focused on how the production looked in junior, saying, “At the CHL level, points don’t matter unless you’re not getting them, and Holinka got them. This year I wanted to see him continue to grow his game and look like the most important player on the team, and that’s what I saw.
Confident on offense and defence, with a solid base of skills to back it up. I rarely felt like his points were clumsy junior points that won’t translate to the next level.
He earned what he got, and in the playoffs he was scoring at a goal-per-game pace. The next step is to do it against pros, and while there’s obviously going to be a learning curve I think his game will translate.”
Cameron added that Holinka first caught his eye with international play soon after Toronto drafted him, saying, “Holinka quickly grabbed my attention after he put up impressive numbers in international play shortly after being drafted by the Leafs, since then I have been a fan of his. He plays a smart style of hockey and sometimes he can create scoring chances out of nothing. I hope he has success with the Marlies this year.”
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