Leafs Goalie Prospect Emerging as a Quality Trade Chip After Performance at Rookie Showcase

The Maple Leafs came away from the Rookie Showcase Tournament in Montreal with a win and a loss. The loss came in a hard-fought game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, while the Leafs rebounded with an excellent game against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, without top prospect Easton Cowan.

The absence of Cowan, gave other prospects an opportunity to shine, with NCAA free agent signing Luke Haymes taking full advantage.

It wasn't just the forwards that put on a show on Sunday against Montreal, though, as goaltending prospect Vyacheslav Peksa put the Leafs and the rest of the NHL on notice with his performance.

The 23-year-old backstopped the Leafs' prospects to a 4-1 win, that included a handful of excellent saves in what was his first game action since last season.

Expected to spend this season in the ECHL again this year with Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov handling the workload for the Toronto Marlies, Peksa's performance on Sunday may have piqued the interest of some teams in search of goaltending depth.

The Leafs have been looking to upgrade their top-six in the forward group, but with a lack of assets available, Peksa's performance and a strong start this season may turn him into a viable trade chip to be included in a package, potentially, for a top-six forward.

If Peksa builds off of his performance on Sunday, he may even allow or persuade the Leafs to deal fellow Russian goalie Artur Akhtyamov instead, bullying his way into the AHL. It will not be an easy feat, however, as Akhtyamov looked great in his first taste of North American hockey last season. He also revealed this past week that he desires a new deal with the Leafs to continue the partnership beyond this season.