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In our latest Maple Leafs prospect power rankings, a new contender has skated into the crease and the top spot.
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Published Feb 05, 2026  • 5 minute read
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Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby blocks the puck during warmups prior to the game against the Utah Mammoth. AP PhotoArticle content
It’s time for our fourth Maple Leafs prospect power rankings of 2025-26.
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Breaking down the Leafs prospects is a monthly feature at the Toronto Sun and Postmedia.
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Not included here is forward Easton Cowan, who has spent the majority of the season with the Leafs and went into the Winter Olympic break with seven goals and 10 assists in 43 games.
Players can be sent to American Hockey League for the Olympic break if they are exempt from waivers, as Cowan is. But he met other criteria that ensured the Leafs could not send him to the minors for the next few weeks.
Players who played in at least 16 of their team’s 20 games before the roster freeze aren’t eligible to be demoted; Cowan played in 17 games in a row prior to being a healthy scratch for the Leafs’ last three games heading into the break.
Goalie Dennis Hildeby has taken over from defenceman Ben Danford atop our February rankings:
1. Dennis Hildeby, G, Toronto Marlies
Drafted in the fourth round in 2022 (122nd overall)
This season: 19 GP, 5-6-4, .912 SAV%, 2.84 GAA (Leafs); 7 GP, 2-2-3, .897 SAV%, 2.63 GAA (Marlies)
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Hildeby has a better save percentage with the Leafs than Joseph Woll (.910 in 25 games) and Anthony Stolarz (.882 in 16 games). What we’ve learned in 2025-26 is that Hildeby is an NHL goalie. With Stolarz back from injury, Hildeby is biding his time in the AHL. There has been speculation that the Leafs could trade a goalie before the March 6 deadline. On the off-chance that happens, it shouldn’t be the 24-year-old Hildeby, whose bright future should play out in Toronto, not somewhere else.
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Play Video2. Jacob Quillan, C, Toronto Marlies
Signed as a free agent in April 2024
This season: 29 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 Pts (Marlies)
Leafs coach Craig Berube praises Quillan whenever the 24-year-old is recalled, then proceeds to not give the Nova Scotia native much of an opportunity. The latest example came on Jan. 25, when Quillan played just over six minutes in a loss against Colorado after Berube listed Quillan’s attributes and what will make him a good NHL player. A few days later, Quillan was sent back to the Marlies. If Leafs general manager Brad Treliving ships out any number of forwards before the deadline, Quillan should be at the top of the list to be recalled. Then, perhaps, he will finally get the kind of chance the Leafs keep talking about.
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3. Ben Danford, D, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Drafted in the first round in 2024 (31st overall)
This season: 29 GP, 2 G, 15 A, 17 Pts
Following his time with Canada at the world junior championship, Danford’s return to the Bulldogs lineup was delayed until Jan. 22 because of a lower-body injury. In six games since, Danford has one assist. Until it becomes absolutely clear that Treliving will go into full sell mode — which everyone expects the GM will do — Danford’s name will linger in trade speculation. The sole focus for Danford, who turns 20 on Friday, should be helping the Bulldogs — sitting in first place in the OHL — to a league title.
4. Miroslav Holinka, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Drafted in the fifth round in 2024 (151st overall)
This season: 42 GP, 28 G, 34 A, 62 Pts
Holinka has not been in the Oil Kings lineup since Jan. 25 against Saskatoon, missing the past four games with an undisclosed injury. In eight games before hitting the sideline, Holinka’s production dipped a bit, as he had seven points (five goals and two assists). Still, his totals were enough to put him in 10th in WHL scoring through games on Wednesday.
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5. William Villeneuve, D, Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Drafted in the fourth round in 2020 (122nd overall)
This season: 38 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts
The 23-year-old Villeneuve leads Marlies defencemen in scoring and heads into the club’s home game against Springfield on Saturday with an assist in consecutive games. We’ll go down the hypothetical road here again, but in the event that Treliving trades a defenceman or two (say, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo or Simon Benoit), we imagine that Villeneuve’s NHL debut might not be far off.
6. Victor Johansson, D, Leksands IF (Swedish Hockey League)
Drafted in the fourth round in 2024 (120th overall)
This season: 6 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 Pts (Leksands IF); 15 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 Pts (IK Oskarshamn)
After he had a small role in Sweden’s run to a gold medal at the world junior championship in Minnesota, Johansson played in two games for Oskarshamn in Sweden’s second league before being summoned to Leksands of the SHL. In four games upon his recall, Johansson had three assists.
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7. Noah Chadwick, D, Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Drafted in the sixth round in 2023 (185th overall)
This season: 43 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 Pts
Chadwick has had a few productive weeks from the blue line, recording seven points (two goals and five assists) in his past nine games. He also has had a good defensive run recently, recording a mark of plus-4 in his past five games. The involvement on offence takes roots from Chadwick’s final two seasons in the Western Hockey League, when he had 56 points and 53 points respectively for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
8. Tyler Hopkins, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Drafted in the third round in 2025 (86th overall)
This season: 42 GP, 16 G, 19 A, 35 Pts
Hopkins has settled in nicely with the Storm upon being acquired from the Kingston Frontenacs a few days after Christmas. In nine of his past 12 games before Thursday, Hopkins recorded at least one point as the Storm battled Owen Sound and Saginaw for playoff position in the six-to-eight spots in the OHL’s Western Conference.
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9. Artur Akhtyamov, G, Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Drafted in the fourth round in 2020 (106th overall)
This season: 25 GP, 15-7–3, .899 SAV%, 2.99 GAA
With Hildeby back with the Marlies, Akhtyamov won’t see as much action as he was getting accustomed to getting when Hildeby was with the Leafs. For that matter, goalie Vyacheslav Peksa is with the Marlies as well. Before Hildeby was returned, Akhtyamov was helping pick up points for the farm club, going 3-1-3 in seven games.
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10. Nick Moldenhauer, RW, University of Michigan (NCAA)
Drafted in the third round in 2022 (95th overall)
This season: 26 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 Pts
The Mississauga native has rebounded well in his third season at Michigan after he had just 10 points in 29 games in 2024-25. Moldenhauer’s next point for the No. 1-ranked Wolverines (they’re 22-4-0) will equal his college career high of 21, set two years ago in 41 games. It’s Moldenhauer’s first look in our monthly prospect rankings.
X: @koshtorontosun
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