Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2020 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 31 to No. 1. The series, which includes evaluations and commentary from coaches and staff on more than 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11.



I have spoken throughout the countdown about several teams whose prospects are more talented than they have demonstrated, working to drive down their ranking relative to where it may have been if the same project were conducted at the start of the season.



But what happens when most of a team’s prospects take the steps you’d hope for, rather than the ones you expect? What happens when a number of a team’s prospects exceed expectations, instead of plateauing? Well, they rank a little higher than you might have expected. These Leafs fit that mold. A few months ago, if you’d told me that Rasmus Sandin...