Leafs prospect turning heads in the USHL, puts together a statement game on Saturday
While most eyes in Leafs Nation are on Matthew Knies, Fraser Minten and Topi Niemela, among others, there are a handful of additional Leafs prospects who are worth keeping an eye on. One of those prospects is Chicago Steel forward Nick Moldenhauer.
Moldenhauer, the Leafs' 3rd round pick (95th overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has put together quite the season for himself in 2022-23. Thanks to his 2-goal performance last night against the Green Bay Gamblers in USHL action, the 18-year-old is now up to 25 goals and 60 points in just 47 games, but it's not just that he's scoring - he's scoring big goals as well.
Moldenhauer tallied the game's opening goal last night, and then scored the game-tying goal in the 13 seconds of the game to force overtime, which eventually brought the game to a shootout. Moldenhauer didn't partake in the shootout, but the impacts of these goals were certainly felt. He, along with teammate Christopher Delaney, had their finger prints all over this game.
Moldenhauer isn't the biggest dog in the fight, at just 5'10, 170 lbs, but he plays a tenacious, no-quit game with high pace and a lot of energy. He still has a ways to go before he'll be NHL-ready, though, as Moldenhauer has already committed to the University of Michigan and will go the NCAA route. I'd imagine that the plan here is to have Moldenhauer play out his 4 seasons in the NCAA, but it wouldn't be shocking to see the Mississauga, ON native play a few seasons with Michigan and then turn around and sign his ELC and turn pro before those 4 years are up.
