The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking.
Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine “prospect” eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club’s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.
You see, the thing about undrafted college free-agent signings is that by the time these players are ready to sign their deals, you have a pretty good idea of what type of player you’re dealing with. They’re farther along in their development cycle and have already played against men. It’s one thing for a 19-year-old to leave college early and develop past anyone’s expectations but that just doesn’t happen with the older players.
That’s the case with Jacob Quillan, the 22-year-old winger fresh off junior year at Quinnipiac. Quillan is known for having scored the biggest goal in Quinnipiac’s history, the one that gave the school its first-ever national title in 2023. He finished his career with 93 points in 116 games over three seasons, including a career-best 46 points this past year.
Quinnipiac has won the 2023 NCAA men’s national hockey championship.
Their first national title. What a moment. pic.twitter.com/M8vdVobHiw
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) April 9, 2023
Quillan was one of the most coveted college UFAs after the season closed, and now he’s looking to make his mark with the Toronto Marlies.
He got his first taste of pro hockey to close out the season, registering just one assist in seven regular season games. Quillan also played three playoff games, putting two shots on net. His best pro game had to have been against Cleveland in the final game of the regular season, when he put four shots on the net and had a couple of really close calls. It was a challenging environment for Quillan to enter because not only had the team established their group heading into the postseason with little room for him to make his mark, the team only won two of the 10 games he skated in. The offense just dried up across the board.
It was just a taste of the next level. But a summer of proper preparation, and the opportunity to actually be integrated into the lineup in a meaningful way will allow for Quillan to take the next step forward in his career.
You always have to temper expectations with college UFAs. They were previously passed over the max number of times in their draft years, but managed to show promise as a late-bloomer. You rarely find anything more than just depth help, but the fact you don’t have to wait as long for them, and they’re cheap, make them interesting options. So for Quillan, you’re not getting a player who’s going to play to the level of, say, Matthew Knies. But you might get someone you can throw between the NHL and AHL and see what happens, just like Alex Steeves all those years ago.
Still, the development cycle has been impressive. The former Penticton Vees forward has come such a long way over the past few years. He was playing AAA in his draft year and had a solid, but not overly dominant, Draft+1 year when he landed in the BCHL. He followed that up with just nine points as a college freshman, so nobody could have expected the near 30-point jump the following year when he first established himself as a legitimate NHL prospect.
Quillan is known for his ability to set up plays, but his true value lies in being a versatile player in the bottom six. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, he possesses a strong build which he uses to his advantage in winning puck battles. Scouts admire his hockey IQ, too. Quillan is a smart forward who doesn’t just pass the puck to avoid pressure. Hailing from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, he is thoughtful in his decision-making, and with his exceptional skating ability, he can execute quick, decisive plays at a high speed.
Quillan’s impressive top speed will be beneficial, especially as a bottom-six forward. Utilizing his powerful strides, he can quickly reach top speed and make rapid changes in direction. While he may not dominate in one-on-one competitions, he is more than capable of holding his own in the NHL.
