Have the Toronto Maple Leafs discovered another hidden gem in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft?
Miroslav Holinka, a fifth-round choice (151st overall), is off to a great start in the 2024-25 season. Holinka, who now plays for the Czech Republic U20 team, is competing in the Friendly International event. The event is utilized for exhibition games or ‘friendlies’ between national teams, which help players prepare for competitions, as well as player evaluation and training sessions before they begin their respective regular seasons.
Holinka gets things started for Team Blue 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0OKU5rmq3U
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 7, 2024
On what appeared to be curling ice, Holinka scored Czechia’s first goal in a 4-2 loss to Switzerland on Wednesday. Czechia rebounded on Friday, defeating Switzerland 5-3, and Holinka scored the only goal in the team’s 4-1 loss to Finland on Sunday.
The 6-foot-1 forward has spent the last two seasons with Czech club HC Ocelari Trinec, playing for both the professional and U20 teams. He appeared in only 16 games for the top club, scoring one goal and two assists, gaining a call-up based on his performance at the U20 level. Competing against players his age, he scored 20 goals and added 21 assists for 41 points in 29 regular-season games. In the postseason, he averaged nearly a point per game, collecting six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 15 games.
The prospect attended the Leafs’ development camp in early July, when he demonstrated his goal-scoring ability. Holinka scored two goals for ‘Team Blue’, matching his performance in the Friendly International. The 18-year-old made no mistake with the ball in front of him, burying a quick one-timer off a feed from first-round pick (31st overall) Ben Danford for his first goal of the game.
His second came on a half breakaway in which he displayed poise by feigning a pass and beating Marco Costantini glove side.
Hayley Wickenheiser, the Maple Leafs’ associate general manager of player development, described Holinka as a “bright spot in camp” with “nice hands” and stated, “You can really tell he’s played professional men’s hockey.” Just his routines, game details, and some of the plays he executes.
Wes Clark, former director of scouting, noted after the draft that the Czech forward was “highly intelligent.” And he can zap the puck. Good shooter, very good shooter. Pretty decent size. We genuinely admire his intelligence.
While it is unknown whether Holinka will play in North America in 2024-25, he has possibilities in the USHL or the Canadian Hockey League. In the USHL, he was drafted by the Waterloo Black Hawks in May before being acquired by the Leafs in June. The Edmonton Oil Kings selected him in the CHL Import Draft a few days after the NHL Entry Draft, with the hope of having him on their opening night roster in the autumn.
Miroslav Holinka scores the first Czech goal of this season. The @MapleLeafs prospect opens the scoring against Switzerland in the U20 tournament in Finland. pic.twitter.com/R2ii2FIdkU
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) July 17, 2024
Kirt Hill, President and General Manager, stated, “We believe this will be an excellent place for him to continue his development as a player in preparation for professional hockey.” He has an excellent shot and terrific offensive instincts. “We are excited to include him in our lineup this fall,” the club stated on its website.
Time will tell which road Holinka takes, but the CHL would offer many of opportunities in Edmonton. Though he has not expressed a choice, it is assumed that he will end up there.
For the time being, despite being years away from the NHL, his improvement and goal-scoring abilities have put him on the radar of Leafs fans everywhere. At 18, there is lots of possibility for advancement, especially given the professional experience he already has on his portfolio.
