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.

Mike Babcock warned that there was pain coming for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and one month into the season that appears to be an accurate assessment.

Fortunately for long-suffering fans, there is relief to be found throughout the team’s farm system — much of which is due to the new regime’s work at the 2015 draft.

With nine picks in total and a premium placed on skill, the Leafs went from having one of the worst prospect pools in the league to one of the best, and the early returns look promising.

AHL

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

Drafted: First round, eighth overall, 2014

Season to date: 11 GP | 6G | 6A | 12P | +5

One of the crown jewels of the Maple Leafs rebuild, William Nylander has lived up to his billing in the early going this season.

The eighth-overall pick in 2014, Nylander is tied for fifth in AHL scoring despite being only 19 years old and is frequently the most dangerous player on the ice — in practices too, apparently.

Nylander finished the month strong with a two-goal night on Oct. 30 against Grand Rapids to give him eight points in eight games.

He hasn’t slowed in November, with four points in three games so far, including a two-point effort (and the shootout winner) Friday night against Utica.

The fact Nylander has adapted well after transitioning to centre — a position he played with MODO last season — and playing against the opposition’s top line every night is just a cherry on top for an organization that needs help down the middle.

Connor Brown: RW, Toronto Marlies (AHL), No. 29

Drafted: Sixth round, 156th overall, 2012

Season to date: 8 GP | 0G | 4A | 4P | E

Connor Brown was a standout as a rookie in the AHL last season, but things haven’t quite bounced his way in the early portion of his sophomore year.

The 21-year-old had no goals and four assists in his first eight games before fracturing his ankle while blocking a shot. He is out indefinitely.

Brown’s early offensive struggles weren’t for a lack of effort, however — he has been getting his chances (2.75 shots per game) but just hasn’t been able to put them away.

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

Drafted: First round, 22nd overall, 2014

Season to date: 9 GP | 4G | 0A | 4P | +2

The centrepiece of the Phil Kessel deal, Kapanen has yet to take flight with the Toronto Marlies.

Kapanen had two goals in six October games and has struggled with consistency at times on a deep Marlies squad. But it’s only his first full season in the AHL, so adjustments were to be expected.

The 19-year-old os off to a good start in November, however, with two goals in three games.

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

Drafted: Third round, 86th overall, 2011

Season to date: 10GP | 3G | 6A | 9P | +6

After battling injuries and puck luck last season, Josh Leivo has rebounded nicely to start the 2015-16 campaign. He is third in team scoring and has found some nice chemistry alongside Nylander, complementing his skill with good board work and net drive.

OHL

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

Drafted: First round, fourth overall, 2015

Season to date: 14 GP | 9G | 17A | 26P | +15

It would be a stretch to say Mitch Marner got off to a slow start to the season, but it’s starting to look that way given how much he’s turned it up of late.

Marner started the season with seven points in his first six games, but he has taken off with 19 points in his last eight games, including a five-assist night on Friday. Like Nylander, Marner is a threat every time he is on the ice.

Travis Dermott: D, Erie Otters, No. 44

Drafted: Second round, 34th overall, 2015

Season to date: 15 GP | 0G | 12A | +13

Dermott is another Leafs prospect still searching for his first goal of the year, but that hasn’t slowed his overall production. A 34th-overall pick in 2015, Dermott has 12 points in 15 games playing big minutes on the high-octane Erie Otters.

The 18-year-old blueliner can still make his presence felt when not hitting the score sheet, however.

Dermott, along with Marner, will represent the OHL at the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series in November.

Jeremy Bracco: RW, Kitchener Rangers, No. 97

Drafted: Second round, 61st overall, 2015

Season to date: 4 GP | 2G | 5A | 7P | +4

Bracco has made an immediate impact in the OHL after leaving Boston College to join the Kitchener Rangers.

The diminutive winger has thrived next to Ryan MacInnis and Brandon Robinson on on the team’s top line, using his vision and slick playmaking to rack up seven points in his first four games. He still needs to bulk up — something that will be tougher to do in the OHL given the heavier schedule — but with the longview in mind, playing big minutes on a top team is a good opportunity for Bracco to test his skill.

Stephen Desrocher: D, Kingston Frontenacs, No. 37

Drafted: Sixth round, 155th overall, 2015

Season to date: 19 GP | 5G | 7A | 12 P | -2

Desrocher has carried his hot play in the playoffs last season into the 2015-16 campaign. The six-foot-four blueliner already has five goals on the year after scoring 10 a season ago and sits seventh in points by a defenceman. Desrocher, who the Leafs took a flyer on after he went undrafted in 2014, was recently traded to the Kingston Frontenacs and will continue to be leaned on in all situations.

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

Drafted: Fourth round, 103rd overall, 2014

Season to date: 14 GP | 11G | 12A | 23P | +14

Piccinich was mostly an afterthought after registering four points in 25 games during his rookie season at Boston University. But a move to the OHL has suddenly put him back on the radar. The 19-year-old has certainly benefited from playing on a stacked team, but he’s putting the puck in the net and has earned the praise of head coach Dale Hunter for his work ethic. Piccinich is currently tied for seventh in OHL scoring.

QMJHL

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

Drafted: Third round, 68th overall, 2015

Season to date: 16 GP | 11G | 15A | 26P | +6

Dzierkals was a bit of a mystery when the Leafs drafted him in the third round in June, but the Latvian is starting to make a name for himself in the QMJHL.

The 18-year-old is tied for the lead in rookie scoring with 26 points and is second in scoring on the West-leading Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Dzierkals is a creative player with an abundance of skill with the puck, which you can see on display in the video below.

Dmytro Timashov: LW, Quebec Remparts, No. 88

Drafted: Fifth round, 125th overall, 2015

Season to date: 17 GP | 8G | 22A | 30P | +9

Speaking of skill (you see a trend here?), Dmytro Timashov is another prospect with plenty of it.

Timashov, who had 90 points in 66 games last season, leads the Remparts in scoring with 30 points in 17 games. He had a strong October with 19 points in 12 games, and already has eight points through three games in November.

A fifth-round pick in 2015, Timashov showed well in the Maple Leafs rookie tournament and he will be an intriguing player to monitor as the season progresses.

Mostly because he does ridiculous stuff like this:

LEAFS NATION on Twitter



WHL

Andrew Nielsen: D, Lethbridge Hurricanes, No. 6

Drafted: Third round, 65th overall, 2015

Season to date: 16 GP | 6G | 12A | 18P | +10

Nielsen has gotten off to the most surprising start of all Maple Leafs prospects. The rugged defenceman is averaging more than a point per game so far this season with six goals and 18 points in 16 games — good for third among WHL defencemen.

Europe

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

Drafted: Seventh round, 202nd overall, 2013

Season to date: 15 GP | 7G | 8A| 15P | +2

Andreas Johnson is quietly one of the Leafs’ best prospects, and he’s off to another great start in 2015-16.

A seventh-round pick in 2013, Johnson, 20, is currently tied for 10th in Swedish Hockey League scoring with seven goals and 15 points in 15 games after finishing top-five in goals scored a season ago.

The bulk of his production this season has come on the power play, where he has registered 11 of his 15 points. Johnson only had nine power-play points all of last season.

It’s hard to gauge how certain players will transition from European hockey to the North American game, but Johnson certainly has the type of skill set the Leafs value in a player.

NCAA

Tony Cameranesi: C, University Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC), No. 13

Drafted: Fifth round, 130th overall, 2011

Season to date: 7 GP | 2G | 6A | 8P | +5

Cameranesi is off to a great start in his senior year at the University Minnesota-Duluth, with a team-best eight points through seven games. He earned NCHC offensive player of the week honours for Oct. 19-25 after registering four points in two games.