Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Gudmundsson, Moldenhauer & Prospects Facing Different Tests

The Toronto Maple Leafs have plenty of young players who are still trying to figure out where they fit into the organization’s long-term plans. That’s the case with Mans Gudmundsson and Nick Moldenhauer as they head into the next stages of their development.

Gudmundsson is only 18 and is getting an opportunity to play against men much earlier than expected. Moldenhauer, meanwhile, is 22 and heading into his final season at the University of Michigan. One is trying to take his first big step up the ladder. The other is trying to make sure he hasn’t reached the end of the ladder with Toronto. Both are worth watching.

Mans Gudmundsson Gets an Unexpected SHL Opportunity

There wasn’t much reason to expect Mans Gudmundsson to be playing top-pair preseason minutes in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this quickly. The Maple Leafs selected the 6-foot-3 defenseman 76th overall in June, and he spent almost all of last season playing U20 hockey with Färjestad BK. He had 25 points in 35 games, including 24 assists, but appeared in only one game with the senior team.

Now he’s getting a chance to play alongside Axel Bergkvist, a 26-year-old defenseman with several seasons of SHL experience. That’s a pretty significant jump. Gudmundsson has some things that are easy to like. He’s big, physical, and isn’t afraid to use his size. He also seems to have a good first pass and enough offensive ability to suggest he isn’t simply going to be a stay-at-home defenseman.

The obvious question is whether his skating is good enough. It’s one thing to be a 6-foot-3 defenseman playing against junior players. It’s another thing entirely when the players you’re facing are bigger, stronger and much quicker at closing down space. That’s what makes this preseason interesting.

Nobody should look at a top-pair assignment and conclude that Gudmundsson is suddenly ready for the NHL. He’s not. But this is exactly the kind of opportunity that can tell a team something about a prospect. Can he keep up? Can he make the right decisions when there isn’t much time? Can he defend without taking himself out of position? Perhaps most importantly, can he earn another chance? That’s really what the Maple Leafs should be watching this season.

Gudmundsson doesn’t even need to become an SHL star. If he can earn the trust of the Färjestad coaching staff and gradually turn preseason opportunities into regular minutes, Toronto should consider that a very successful season. For an 18-year-old defenseman, playing against men is development.

Moldenhauer Has One More Chance to Change the Conversation

Nick Moldenhauer is in a very different position. The 22-year-old forward is heading into his senior season at the University of Michigan (where Zach Hyman played), and this is probably the point where the Maple Leafs need to start getting a much clearer idea of what they have.

Toronto drafted Moldenhauer 95th overall in 2022 after he had put up some very good numbers with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He recorded 75 points in 55 games during his final junior season, including 30 goals.

That was the player Toronto hoped to get. College hockey has been a different story. Moldenhauer recorded 21 points in 41 games during his first season at Michigan and then managed only 10 points in 29 games the following season. Last season was considerably better, as he bounced back with 15 goals and 31 points in 40 games.

Now he’s entering his senior campaign and will wear an ‘A’ for Michigan. That gives him a chance to take another step, but it also puts a little more pressure on him. The Maple Leafs have generally needed more offensive skill in their prospect pool, and Moldenhauer certainly has some. His USHL numbers weren’t a fluke, and last season’s improvement at Michigan was encouraging.

But at 22, the conversation has changed. This isn’t really about whether Moldenhauer can become a better college player. It’s about whether he can show enough to convince Toronto that his offensive game can translate to professional hockey. If he has a big senior season, plays an important role for Michigan and shows that he can consistently create offence against good competition, the Leafs could have a decision to make.

If he doesn’t, this may be heading toward an American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Toronto Marlies rather than an entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs. There’s nothing particularly unusual about that. Third-round picks don’t all become NHL players. But Moldenhauer has enough offensive ability that it would be a shame if the Leafs didn’t find out exactly what he can do at the professional level.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

These are two very different prospect stories, and that’s probably the best way to look at them. With Gudmundsson, the Maple Leafs can afford to be patient. He’s 18, he’s making a huge jump in competition, and he has plenty of time to develop. If he earns regular SHL minutes, that’s a win. If he struggles and goes back to the U20 level, that isn’t necessarily a failure either.

Moldenhauer is different. At 22, the clock is moving a little faster. Toronto needs to see whether last season’s improvement was the beginning of something or simply a good season. The interesting thing is that both players are facing the same basic question: What happens when the game gets harder? For the Maple Leafs, the answers could tell them a lot about whether either player has a future in Toronto.