2025 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #16 Nick Moldenhauer

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking.

Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine “prospect” eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club’s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.

Nick Moldenhauer caught my attention at the 2023 Maple Leafs summer development camp in large part due to his speed, short-area quickness and aggression in the offensive zone. Moldenhauer spent the 2022-23 season on a line with Macklin Celebrini with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he recorded 30 goals and 75 points. Was his gaudy point production the function of playing with a superstar talent like Celebrini? Moldenhauer now enters his junior campaign on a star-studded Michigan team, where he’ll be expected to take a major leap offensively if he’s going to make a reasonable case for a NHL career.

The 21-year-old is an undersized offensive winger who makes up for it with outstanding speed. Moldenhauer is gifted with the puck, but it’s going to be more difficult to find the time and space he craves at the NHL level, and he needs to continuously hound down pucks if he’s going to make an impact as a professional. Moldenhauer finished tied for 14th in scoring last season with Michigan — for comparision, 2025 first-round pick Will Horcoff also recorded 10 points, in 11 fewer games.

If he’s not scoring, Moldenhauer’s game becomes pretty reductive, quickly. He needs to improve significantly away from the puck, with greater defensive detail, and an increased propensity to get open for his linemates in the offensive zone. If his point production stalls at Michigan, it’s likely he’ll descend down the organization’s internal rankings.

It’s not all bad for Moldenhauer. He’s an intelligent player who is very well-liked by his teammates, his skating still pops, and he told TSN’s Mark Masters that he’s been working with Scott Laughton, viewing the veteran forward as a role model.

After going 20 games without a goal, Nick Moldenhauer has scored in back to back games. Similar looking shot on both goals too.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/rLDwQoM3KO

— Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) March 9, 2025

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The season outlook for Moldenhauer entering the 2025-26 campaign is pretty simple: Moldenhauer needs to simply produce more consistently during his third season at the NCAA level, while working to improve his game away from the puck. If Moldenhauer doesn’t score prolifically, the rest of the improvements to his game may not matter as much. He’s playing on a loaded Michigan team that ought to contend for the NCAA title, which would also work wonders for his confidence. Moldenhauer is one of the Leafs’ most exciting prospects when he’s at the top of his game, but it’s been two years since he lit up the USHL, and we need to see his scoring touch come alive again.