Every month throughout the NHL season we’ll be updating you on the development of key Maple Leafs prospects with up-to-date stats, videos, analysis and scouting reports.

AHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made it clear they have no intention of rushing prospects to the NHL, but sometimes circumstances dictate otherwise.

That was the case this week when an injury to James Reimer coupled with the struggles of Jonathan Bernier opened the door for goalie Garret Sparks. And the 22-year-old Elmhurst, Ill., native took full advantage, becoming the first goalie in Maple Leafs history to record a shutout in his debut.

His follow-up performance in Winnipeg (six goals allowed on 35 shots), however, served as an important reminder that at this stage patience is paramount for the Maple Leafs.

Sparks wasn’t the only good story for the Maple Leafs in November — a number of the team’s top prospects made major waves last month.

Here are some of the highlights:

Garret Sparks: G, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 40

Drafted: Seventh round, 190th overall, 2011

Season to date: 8-2-1 | 1.90 GAA | .938 SV% | 2 SO

Prior to his storybook debut with the Maple Leafs Sparks was tearing up the AHL. Sparks finished with a 1.39 goals-against average and .952 save percentage in seven November starts and currently has the second-best save percentage in the AHL at .938. As a result, he was named the AHL goaltender of the month.

His play early this season shouldn’t be all that surprising given his dominance in the ECHL last year. With a league-leading .936 save percentage — 12 points higher than the second-best goalie — it was clear Sparks was ready for a greater challenge, and he’s responded well as the No. 1 guy for the Marlies.

William Nylander: C, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 62

Drafted: First round, eighth overall, 2014

Season to date: 22 GP | 13 G | 16 A | 29 P | +9

There’s not much else the Maple Leafs can ask of top prospect William Nylander.

After opening the first month of the season at a point-a-game clip, Nylander exploded in November with five goals and 16 points in 11 games to move into first in AHL scoring with 24 points in 19 games. The high mark of the month came in a wild 9-8 overtime win against the St. John IceCaps Nov. 14 in which he recorded four points, including the game-winning goal.

via GIPHY

It must be the new off-ice routine.

Thanks Pappa Clune…watch out kappy A photo posted by William Nylander (@williamnylander) on Nov 25, 2015 at 5:48pm PST

Nylander’s hold on the AHL scoring lead could loosen in December, as the Swedish forward will partake in the world juniors in Helsinki. There’s no reason to believe the 19-year-old won’t be a top player at the tournament after he finished tied for second in scoring a year ago.

Kasperi Kapanen: RW, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 42

Drafted: First round, 22nd overall, 2014

Season to date: 15 GP | 5 G | 4 A | 9 P | +5

Various ailments and roster shuffling has hampered Kasperi Kapanen to start the season. The 2014 first-round pick has only appeared in 15 of the team’s 24 games, in which he has five goals, eight points (five in November) and 21 shots on goal.

The consistency hasn’t been there, but he has shown off his game-breaking speed and shot on a number of occasions. Most notably his one-goal, three-point, four-shot performance against Binghamton. A trip to the world juniors would be good for Kapanen, who had a disappointing showing in last year’s tournament.

William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen go back and forth to get the#Marlies on the board. #MarliesLive #Toronto #Hockey A video posted by Toronto Marlies (@torontomarlies) on Nov 22, 2015 at 1:10pm PST

Josh Leivo: RW, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 14

Drafted: Third round, 86th overall, 2011

Season to date: 21 GP | 7 G | 14 A | 21 P | +8

If the Maple Leafs ever need to call up a winger this year, Josh Leivo’s name would have to be near the top of the list.

The third-year pro has been the team’s best forward not named Nylander, following up a strong month of October with three goals, nine points and 28 shots in 11 games.

With a strong cycle and puck possession game, Leivo has meshed well with Nylander and Richard Panik when inserted on the top line.

Nikita Soshnikov: LW/RW, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 90

Drafted: Undrafted free-agent signing

Season to date: 22 GP | 7 G | 3 A | 10 P | +8

Soshnikov hasn’t put up the numbers some of his more heralded teammates have, but he has been a big part of the Marlies’ success.

The 22-year-old is a speedy and versatile forward and has adapted well to the North American game after coming over from the KHL in the off-season. He has spent time on the fourth line and the first line, power play and penalty kill, and has at least one shot on goal in every game he has appeared in.

This was his short-handed marker against Rochester on Friday:

via GIPHY

Brendan Leipsic: LW, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 19

Drafted: Third round, 89th overall, 2012 (Nashville)

Season to date: 23 GP | 5 G | 9 A | 14 P | +8

Leipsic has been a key contributor to the Marlies offence. The energetic winger had three goals and eight points in 12 games in November while being among the team’s top shot producers.

With a shot like this, it’s no wonder.

OHL

Mitch Marner: C/RW, London Knights (OHL), No. 93

Drafted: First round, fourth overall, 2015

Season to date: 25 GP | 22 G | 36 A | 58 P | +25

Mitch Marner continues to be really good at hockey. He is currently riding a 19-game point streak, during which he has two five-point games and seven three-point games, including back-to-back hat tricks on the weekend.

With 27 points in 10 games in November, Marner is now averaging 2.32 points per game.

It was also a good month internationally for Marner. He started it by starring in the OHL Russia Series, picking up an assist and earning player of the game honours.

Then he finished it by being named to Canada’s selection camp roster for the world juniors.

Travis Dermott: D, Erie Otters, No. 44

Drafted: Second round, 34th overall, 2015

Season to date: 29 GP | 2 G | 25 A | | 27 P | +21

Travis Dermott is tied for the OHL lead in scoring among defencemen thanks to a huge month of November.

Dermott, who also earned an invite to Canada’s world junior camp, finished the month with 15 points over 12 games quarterbacking the high-powered Otters.

Jeremy Bracco: RW, Kitchener Rangers, No. 97

Drafted: Second round, 61st overall, 2015

Season to date: 15 GP | 5 G | 13 A | 18 P | +9

Jeremy Bracco had a strong first month in the OHL after coming over from Boston College at the end of October.

The shifty playmaker picked up four goals and nine assists in 13 games, including this gem as part of a two-assist game against the rival Knights.

J.J. Piccinich: RW, London Knights, No. 84

Drafted: Fourth round, 103rd overall, 2014

Season to date: 25 GP | 16 G | 17 A | 33 P | +19

J.J. Piccinich continued to find the back of the net in November, racking up six goals in 10 games to put him tied for seventh in the league wide with 16. It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up when Marner, Tkachuk and possibly Dvorak are off at the world juniors.

QMJHL

Dmytro Timashov: LW, Quebec Remparts, No. 88

Drafted: Fifth round, 125th overall, 2015

Season to date: 28 GP | 17 G | 34 A | 51 P | +9

Dmytro Timashov was rewarded for his hot start to the season with an entry-level contract from the Leafs.

The highly-skilled winger is currently third in QMJHL scoring after piling up nine goals and 25 points in November. It doesn’t look like December will be any different, as Timashov opened the month with a two-goal, five point-performance on Friday.

Timashov could join Nylander at the world juniors after participating in Sweden’s evaluation camp this summer.

Martins Dzierkals: RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, No. 10

Drafted: Third round, 68th overall, 2015

Season to date: 26 GP | 14 G | 19 A | 33 P | +7

Dzierkals cooled off in November after a scorching start to his QMJHL career. The Latvian winger had three goals and seven points in 10 games last month after putting up 20 points in 12 October games.

He’ll get the chance to represent his country in December at the Division 1 Group A world juniors, which features the top teams not at the main tournament in Helsinki.

WHL

Andrew Nielsen: D, Lethbridge Hurricanes, No. 6

Drafted: Third round, 65th overall, 2015

Season to date: 29 GP | 7 G | 21 A | 28 P | +11

Andrew Nielsen wasn’t expected to be among the WHL’s top offensive defencemen, but that’s where he finds himself two months into the season.

He only had one goal in November after scoring six in October, but he still sits tied for second in defenceman scoring with 27 points in 28 games.

The 19-year-old also signed an entry-level deal with the Leafs last month.

Europe

Andreas Johnson: LW, Frolunda (SHL), No. 88

Drafted: Seventh round, 202nd overall, 2013

Season to date: 24 GP | 11 G | 10 A| 21 P | +5

Despite a dip in production in November (three points, seven games), Andreas Johnson has still been one of the top offensive players in the league. He is tied for third in the SHL in goals (11) and tied for ninth in points (21) in 24 games.

Johnson has already matched last month’s production in one game this month by scoring a hat trick on Thursday.

(h/t @SHLProspectGIFS)