Alright, so the Maple Leafs just dropped a massive prospect haul on us, bringing in a whopping 15 new players all under 25 years old into their system. This isn’t just a draft class, it’s a full-on youth movement, pulled together through their single important pick in June, plus a bunch of late-round selections from trades, and some sneaky free agent signings. You gotta keep tabs on this crowd because some of these guys are gonna be big deals.
The Trade Pickup Who’s Seen Some Real Ice
First up, let’s talk about Emil Andrae. This dude is the only player they straight up traded for, not just drafted with a trade-acquired pick. They got his rights as an unsigned RFA in the deal that sent Joe Woll to the Flyers, and then locked him down with a two-year contract for $1.55 million. Here’s the kicker, though: Andrae is already beyond what you’d call a “successful draft pick” benchmark, having played over 100 NHL games. Seriously! He was in 61 games last year for the Flyers, and 42 the year before that. He’s 24, which means he’s one of five prospects who’ll age off the list soon. The scouting report says he’s a “puck-moving defender” whose main value is transition, but he’s not exactly laying big hits or racking up points. That’s gonna be super interesting to watch as he competes with all these high-scoring junior defenders coming up. How do you even evaluate a player like that?
Hidden Gems and Young Guns Hitting the Minors
Beyond Andrae, the Leafs also did their usual thing, signing a bunch of NCAA and CHL grads as free agents. These guys usually grind it out in the minor leagues, but you always hope one of them turns into a diamond. Brandon Buhr, a 24-year-old right-shooting winger, is the oldest of this free agent crew and has already played a few games for the Marlies, their AHL squad. Vinny Borgesi, just 22, is a right-shooting defender who also debuted with the Marlies last spring. Then there’s Landon Sim, also 22, who was on an AHL contract last year and sounds like a legend already: an “endearing, high-energy, trouble-making forward” who split time between the ECHL and the Marlies. He’s on an ELC now and should be back with the Marlies this season, and honestly, who doesn’t wanna watch a trouble-maker? Rounding out that group is Hayes Hundley, a 21-year-old right-shooting defender who will definitely be in the minors somewhere this year.
Then you got the drafted guys. Ethan MacKenzie is a 20-year-old solid two-way defender who’s committed to the University of North Dakota, but he’s already made big development leaps. Yaroslav Fedoseyev, about to turn 19, is a right-shooting defender who caught some eyes pre-draft, playing in junior and men’s league. He’ll be trying to crack a KHL team soon. And you’ve definitely heard of Gavin McKenna, who turns 19 in December; training camp should tell us a lot about where he lands. Lastly, Patriks Plumins, Latvia’s U18 star goalie, won’t be 19 until January, and he was playing in the men’s league last year.
So, what’s next for this massive influx of talent? These 15 new guys are all fighting for their futures, whether it’s proving themselves on the Marlies, tearing it up in the minors, or maybe, just maybe, surprising everyone with a jump to the big club. Keep your eyes peeled for guys like Andrae to see if his NHL experience truly translates, and for Sim to bring that high-energy chaos. It’s gonna be a wild ride for these prospects trying to make their mark.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
Leave a Reply