Ryan Ma 📊

🎓 BMath ’25 @UWaterloo | 🥅 NCAA Recruitment Scout @PuckPreps | 🏒 US Regional Scout @DobberProspects | 📊Founder @T2TProspects

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

🚨 As promised… the RyanMaScouting #2026NHLDraft Guide is now live 🚨

📊 170+ prospect reports
🏒 500+ games tracked
📈 125+ analytics cards

Completely free!

Let me know your thoughts & thank you all for your support this year!

Link below 👀⬇️

🔗: https://t.co/IX0KuKuJmu

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

The headlining asset in the Connor Hellebuyck deal for #goJetsgo is 2026 12th overall pick Alexander Command

A high motor player, who does all the underappreciated work on a line. Very projectable skillset, but he will almost certainly be a complimentary player at the NHL level

[Kevin Weekes @KevinWeekes]

**Breaking News** 🚨 📰
Per sources I can report @NHLJets are trading Hellebuyck to @NJDevils for Daws, Mercer, Command 2 future picks, and another forward. #HockeyX

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

@SpeeChristopher Thanks Chris! It did, confirmed passed :)

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

Sad to see JQ26 head out the door. Loved it when the #Leafs signed him out of Quinnipiac but I think the writing was on the wall when he couldn’t beat out Lorentz or Bo Groulx for that last roster spot out of camp

Raty is interesting. A bit younger, more NHL proven and didn’t really get a real chance this year from the Canucks, but the skating is going to be a real hang up on whether he’s got an NHL future with this team. Definitely a talented player though, and intriguing.

Most of the value from this trade for Toronto is clearing up that extra roster spot that others have already mentioned.

[Toronto Maple Leafs @MapleLeafs]

TRADE: We’ve acquired forward Aatu Räty from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

Kind of gutted I missed watching this game. Thought for the longest time that #NHLBruins DiPietro had the quality to be an NHL goalie

Got his development absolutely derailed because of the Covid Taxi-Squad era with the #Canucks

Thought he was deserving of an NHL spot 2 years ago but glad he’s finally gotten his first. Just a nice overall feel-good story

[Boston Bruins @NHLBruins]

Dipper's first NHL W 🥳

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

I say to a degree because I still believe wholeheartedly that there ARE times when you need to be able to collapse and defend a lead. Some games where the other team is just thoroughly dominating you, your legs are gone.

Where nothing is working but you’ve managed to pop a goal in on the powerplay and you’re hanging on to a 1-0 lead with dear life.

Is it a sustainable strategy for any team? Hell no. Would I like to have the comfort to know that in those games whether it’s a playoff game or regular season game that our roster can gut out a gritty win? I would.

Hiller certainly did not put his players in the best spots to succeed, but I do think no matter what, the players and the GM also have to take some of the onus even if the overwhelming share of it should go to the coach.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

Ultimately Hiller will get a lot of flack for this (and to a degree very deserved)

But I think the biggest thing I need to see from the #Leafs HC is this ability to adapt to his roster that we heard so much about during the offseason

Why are we playing such a passive 1-2-2 and somehow still ceding the blueline so easily? This Leafs team is built to be aggressive and on the front foot. I thought the whole idea of this roster construction was to add some needed speed to the line up to a support that philosophy?

Benching McKenna felt more like Hiller resorting to vets that he’s comfortable with down the stretch. Not a good recipe for success on either front.

In the playoffs Toronto will need McKenna to be able to handle far more physical play than he is now with 10x the stakes. In Game 5, 6, 7 you cannot be sheltering him to the tune of 6-7 minutes a night for the fear he will make mistakes.

Gavin has shown at every level that he can rise to the occasion, that he has the work ethic to get better. The early season is when you want to let him work those out. He’s shown this season that he’s talented enough to reward you for that trust with flashes of brilliance even when he’s in his most raw form.

Be aggressive, play to the strengths of your roster and please for the love of all that is worth living for, just let the kid play.

[David Alter @davidalter]

Jim Hiller says it was his decision not to play McKenna. Says he didn’t play for a while in the second period and looked to get him out there in the third but at that point he had sat so long so he didn’t want to put him out there even though he felt he should have.

“That’s on me”

Says he hasn’t talked to McKenna about it yet.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

@SpeeChristopher Thanks Chris! Got an exam later today but other than that things have been going alright. Hope everything is well in Germany my man

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

@fvc022

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

For #Canucks fans curious about Quillan. I’m still bullish that there’s an NHL player here.

Smart, super responsible positionally with underrated skill. Does a lot of the little things right, decent speed in straight lines but doesn’t change direction as well as you’d hope.

That weakness became a bit of a glaring issue at the NHL level as his ability to extend plays with his puck protection and physical play in the AHL didn’t translate.

Likely just a tweener when it’s all said or done but I do truly think he’s someone who can play NHL games in a pinch when called upon and should get another chance to earn a full time NHL role.

My thoughts on him just a year ago at Leafs Development Camp in September 2025:

[Vancouver Canucks @Canucks]

General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the #Canucks have acquired Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Aatu Räty.

DETAILS | https://t.co/v1izEcONh0

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

I’ve always been consistent on the fact that I wasn’t really sold on the Carlo trade.

Was hesitant at the time to trade just Minten for him even with retention, only to then find out we were adding a 1st on top.

Plus it can’t really be called calling for heads when the people responsible for that disastrous trade have already been canned can it? 😭

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

What could’ve been…

Brad I will never forgive you for this trade

Cowan - Minten - Nylander would be doing absolute numbers right now with Tavares getting sheltered on L3

Instead we got two thirds and a year and a half of Carlo floundering in Berube’s system

#Leafs

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

Throw back to before last year’s trade deadline when I wrote this article for @6ixOnIce on now #NHLBruins Fraser Minten and why prospects like him don’t get traded.

Yeah…

We shouldn’t have traded him.

#LeafsForever 💔

🔗: https://t.co/HyVgM4ykxZ

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

@mcclusk This is exactly it LOL

I will never complain that we got McKenna. He’s sick and one of the best slot passers I’ve ever seen in all my years watching junior hockey

Just wish we didn’t have to take a penalty first before we could score the game winner as you aptly put it

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

@tommyhammer @mcclusk I mean he’s been on Boston’s PP2 not PP1. Do we not think he’d get in on Toronto’s current PP2 over Nic Paul or Roslovic?

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

I think down the stretch last year he would’ve had ample opportunity to play higher in the line up.

Mints always had the size, shot and mind to play in the NHL. The confidence, skating and strength were what help him back.

Skating has taken a huge leap, he certainly has gotten stronger and I think those 2 would’ve happened regardless if he was in Boston or Toronto. The confidence as a playdriver? Hmmmmmm… that you might have a point on. He got a lot of reps and opportunity last year with Boston to grow his comfort level. I still think that development would’ve been possible here too.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

Not a Minten whiner by any means, it ultimately comes down to I don’t believe in celebrating strokes of luck. Strong believer in process over everything.

We didn’t deserve to get McKenna, but by lord we somehow fell ass forward into it, and our GMs handling of that Carlo trade was one I was skeptical of the day it happened.

Trade never should’ve happened is my point regardless of what the end result was. I refuse to give credit to the idea that it wasn’t a dumb idea because we lucked out with some lottery balls. We deserve better and should expect better than that from our front office.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

100% Fair

I was just never sold on the idea of trading someone like Minten. Lots of Leafs fans lost faith after his WJC showings and not sticking in the NHL right away but he was just always a guy I believed in.

Strongly believed that he was at worst a 3C and had all the makings to become a good 2C in Toronto if certain things worked out (which it looks it might have now)

Makes it a bit harder to stomach for me seeing him in Boston of all places lighting it up while Brandon Carlo was at best mediocre with Toronto.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

Frankly, from a pure process perspective I think I would. There’s no guarantee we get McKenna, but here’s also no guarantee that Matthews is back in 2 years.

A Knies/Marchenko deal likely still happens this offseason, but I can only imagine the kind of damage Chayka could do with an extra 1st in our arsenal to maximize this team in the remaining years of AM34.

Toronto still likely ends up with a Top 7 pick anyways where a guy like Bjorck would’ve also been amazing to have.

This is not to say I don’t think Gavin is an insane talent, I waxed poetic about this guy in my draft guide and throughout his draft year, but I’ve always been a guy that believes strongly in process above all. The fact we fell ass backwards into Pick 1 instead of handing Boston Chase Reid on a platter at 7 is mostly irrelevant to me.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

More #Leafs thought before the game…

Sissons - Matthews - Nylander
Cowan - Tavares - Marchenko
McKenna - Paul - Roslovic
Duhaime - Bleuger - Wood

Is something I would like Toronto to try

Sissons L1 is obviously goofy looking but I think it COULD work. He’s fast enough to keep up with Auston and Willy, he does the dirty work along the walls, and he’s a natural C which means he can take over some of the defensive mindset off Auston’s plate when they’re on the ice.

Cowan - Tavares - Marchenko I’ve been a fan of whenever I see them together. Think there’s a perfect blend of speed, offensive zone play, grit along the walls and feistiness on the forecheck with this line.

McKenna - Paul as a pairing I REALLY like, but haven’t loved the lack of finishing touch on that line with Sissons. Shelter Gavin a bit, keep him and Roslovic away from too many tough matchups but I think that line can work. Roslovic isn’t amazing in terms of winning puck battles but he uses his speed well to get to puck carriers quickly on the forecheck, and Paul has been very good as the 2nd guy in on puck battles. Add in Roslo’s clear comfort and preference to be a finisher rather than facilitator, Paul’s net front oriented game, and McKenna’s crafty playmaking and vision…. I think that line can work.

4th line hasn’t been inspiring but they’ve been fine and I’ve talked before about how I think Duhaime and Wood as a tandem on the forecheck would be very fun given their speed and edge.

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

I’m just kind of tired of JT on the PP. I’ve never really been a fan. Good bumper guy in his prime in terms of getting shots off in the slot but his agility and ability to get moving KILLS the powerplay on entries.

Just makes more sense to have 92 on there and the PP’s been dynamite everytime he’s on it. I just don’t love the whole “you have to earn the PP1 time” gimmick that NHL teams use

[Ryan Ma 📊 @RyanMaScouting]

I swear if I see Tavares on PP1 over McKenna ever again I’m going to lose it.

You don’t bench that unique and elite skillset to defer to hierarchy

Not a lot of players in the NHL can make that pass right there from the half wall

#Leafs

[Omar @TicTacTOmar]

WLLIAM NYLANDER 🚨

Tie game on the power play! What a pass by McKenna!