The Canadian Hockey League playoffs are well underway across the country. With a rough season coming to an end for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s a great opportunity to see some of the team’s top prospects in action. While all eyes are on 2024 first-round pick and Brantford Bulldogs defender Ben Danford, one prospect from that same class is stealing the show as he has taken the Western Hockey League by storm all season.
Edmonton Oils Kings forward Miroslav Holinka was drafted four rounds after Danford, 151st overall. You always hope that players in that part of the draft can succeed and make tremendous strides in their development. He’s proving just that as he is now cementing himself as a top prospect for this team and is showing to be a hidden gem based on his play this season and playoffs.
Holinka’s Breakout Season
For this season, Holinka made my top-10 prospects list after he had a decent showing in his first season in North America with 45 points in 47 games. He wasn’t in the top-five, but this season he may have looked to improve his status within the organization and vault up that list as he helped the Oil Kings to a 45-18-3-2 record.
Holinka instantly became an important player in a more elevated role as a leader and offensive producer this season. He’s a very reliable 200-foot player with a great shot, vision, smarts and a strong compete level. He finished second in team scoring with 37 goals and 80 points and 15th overall in the league, an impressive increase from the previous season as he finished with a 1.36 point per game average. Given that he is 20 years old and an over-ager, he showed that he is capable of furthering his development in just his second full season and in a competitive Western Hockey League.
While his regular season play was impressive, he has been on an absolute tear offensively in the playoffs. Even though his positioning won’t last long, Holinka is currently leading the playoffs in goals with seven and is tied for first in points with 11. As a result, he earned Player of the Week honours. With the Oil Kings down in their series, he took charge as a top player for his team. Head coach Jason Smith spoke highly of Holinka after a hat trick in Game 4 and his ability to rise to a higher standard when the team needed him to.
“[He] has expectations to play well and lead our team, and his game tonight was outstanding,” Smith said after Holiinka’s Game 4 performance. “It was a 200-foot game played well in both ends. That’s what you need from your good players, is good effort.”
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That praise is surely to bode well for him but also for the Maple Leafs as they’re now keeping a closer watch on him as a player that could be a key asset in the near future.
Breaking Down Holinka’s Best Post Season Game
When the Maple Leafs drafted Holinka his IQ, awareness and shot were all selling points to draft him. He brings great compete and attention to detail on the ice. It has definitely been even more noticeable in the postseason as he has taken charge and impacting the game whenever he can.
Holinka has a lot of aspects to his game that can make him successful at the next level. At every step he has impressed; be it at development camps, spring training or in a year where it’s expected of him to be an important player for his team. Which was even more evident as he scored the game-winning goal in double overtime in Game 6 to force a Game 7. Although the Oil Kings ultimately lost in the final game, it was an impressive postseason for him. Here’s a breakdown of his Game 4 hat-trick that shows all of his strengths.
On his first goal, Holinka reads the play well as it unfolded, finding the open ice in order to receive a quick pass in the left circle. While it’s a relatively low percentage angle, he does a great job to step up, challenge the defender and quickly get a shot off to find the back of the net. When he finds those shooting lanes, he will never pass up on the opportunity. Which leads us to his next goal and it’s a highlight reel one.
On the power play, Holinka has ample time and space to work with and with a shooter like him, that’s never a good thing. However, this goal shows his ability to continue to attack the middle of the ice and the defenders. He quickly moves up to the top of the offensive zone and as the defender backs off, he generates a quick burst of speed in the process. He then quickly finds some open space and then goes 1-on-4, showing great puck control and hands in tight to get by everyone. He gets a backhand shot off and scores.
On his third goal, it shows Holinka’s ability to not cheat, stay in position and as open as possible. After a shot on goal, there’s a big rebound and with him trailing and hanging back, he quickly pounces on the puck and roofs it up high.
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The combination of his willingness to constantly attack, shot, hands and awareness for puck support and being open for a scoring opportunity, Holinka is displaying the traits that will make him successful at the pro level. He still needs time, but with the way he has improved each season, that time could come sooner than later.
