6. Mikko Kokkonen
Acquired: 2019 third-round pick
Age: 18
Position: Defense
Stats: 56 games, 3 goals, 16 assists, 19 points (Jukurit, Liiga)
Mikko Kokkonen stood out on an otherwise terrible Jukurit team. He held his own in a very competitive league despite being on a historically bad roster. Kokkonen finished fifth among the rookie leaders in points and finished first among rookie defensemen.
He’s an aggressive defender who isn’t afraid to play the puck. Kokkonen is strong in transition, as he makes smart decisions and isn’t afraid to take the puck up the ice himself. I think his offensive game is a little limited, but I think he could be an Anton Stralman type. If paired with the right partner, he could be a top-four defenseman. At worst, Kokkonen has the tools to be a good third-pairing defenseman.
5. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
Acquired: 2018 third-round pick
Age: 18 (turns 19 in September)
Position: Center
Stats: 62 games, 6 goals, 40 assists, 46 points (Peterborough Petes, OHL)
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is a boom or bust prospect. I like his chance of booming, though. Even though SDA had a bit of a growth spurt (he’s 5’11”), he’s listed at 163 pounds and that’s probably a generous listing. His skating has improved, but I still don’t like his acceleration.
All of that said, SDA has top-six forward potential. He’s still extremely young and has a lot of time to add some speed and strength to his game. SDA is much more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. He’s extremely fun to watch with the puck. If hockey had And1 mix tapes, SDA would be a regular on them.
SDA has to be more consistent, but his upside is the highest among all the Leafs forward prospects. He might also have the lowest ceiling, but I love that the Leafs gambled on him and I have a lot of faith in him, even after a down year.