The Toronto Maple Leafs are making ready for his or her 2024-25 marketing campaign and have been making their method by way of preseason whereas permitting followers to achieve a way of what the long run might appear to be with prospects having the prospect to showcase themselves. Whereas some kids will possible make their opening-night roster in Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten, one prospect might fly underneath the radar as he returns to the Western Hockey League (WHL) to play with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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Miroslav Holinka was chosen by the Oil Kings within the first spherical of the 2024 CHL Import Draft at 14th total after a robust season in Czechia U20 with HC Ocelári Trinec the place he scored 20 objectives and added 21 assists for 41 factors by way of 29 video games. He additionally performed 16 video games within the Czech Extraliga with HC Ocelári Trinec the place he scored one purpose and added two assists for 3 factors.
The Maple Leafs chosen Holinka within the fifth spherical of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft at 151st total, and he caught round till simply after the 2024-25 WHL common season received underway. Holinka did get into his first sport with the Oil Kings on Saturday (Sept. 28) on the primary line alongside fellow Czechian ahead Adam Jecho and Gavin Hodnett as they confronted off towards the Calgary Hitmen.
Holinka’s First Impression in WHL a Good One
The Oil Kings picked up an enormous 4-1 victory over the Hitmen which gave them their first win of the season, after shedding their first two video games. Jecho and Hodnett regarded sturdy as in the event that they hadn’t missed a beat, and Holinka elevated them in a giant method. Within the win, Holinka’s confidence with the puck mixed together with his velocity and offensive IQ led to him being considered one of, if not one of the best, participant all through the sport. He scored his first profession WHL purpose and was in a position so as to add an help for a two-point debut.
Holinka appears to be in for a giant season offensively with the Oil Kings, and his two-point efficiency appears to be an indicator of what followers ought to anticipate from him because the season rolls alongside. His two-way sport is extraordinarily sturdy, his arms and footspeed are spectacular, and he does the little issues proper which embody successful puck battles, selecting up his duties defensively, and never making an attempt to drive passes within the impartial and offensive zone.
“The consistencies within the quite a few scouting stories on Holinka are that he’s good, versatile, and might create with the puck in all three zones. And whereas that sounds very thrilling the opposite constant theme is that whereas Holinka is nice in a number of areas, he’s not a standout in anyone position and that might be his barrier to success. For that cause, it appears lucky that Holinka’s subsequent touchdown spot is with the Edmonton Oil Kings, who’ve had current success tales with versatile/all spherical good gamers like Jake Neighbours and Curtis Lazar.”
supply – ‘2024 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #17 Miroslav Holinka’ – Jon Steitzer – The Leafs Nation – 08/08/2024
His improvement appears to be in good arms with the Oil Kings as they’ve confirmed over time that they will enhance and produce constant NHL gamers, together with Dylan Guenther, Jake Neighbours, and Mark Pysyk. If Holinka can proceed to enhance the little areas of his sport, there isn’t any cause he might turn out to be an NHL participant within the close to future. His offensive sport has a powerful quantity of upside, and his skating is already at an elite degree. Hopefully, Holinka can proceed to enhance and might finally have an opportunity at a full-time NHL spot, however Maple Leaf followers must be enthusiastic about his potential.
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