Photo credit: Steven Ellis – Daily Faceoff
If the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to sign some CHL talent, they have the ability to starting today, and could make a play to build their system up even more.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs look towards the trade deadline with new eyes, they are going to no doubt be looking at who they can sell highest on, and it’s starting to feel like desperate times — a new feeling for a typically productive side.
However, with a focus on their future the topic of conversation, they do have the ability to bring in players from the CHL. They did so last year with Landon Sim, Borya Valis, and Blake Smith and could be poised to do so again.
Who could Toronto target as an undrafted free agent signing?
Dylan Edwards, a Toronto native, would be a solid option as he’s been tearing it up with both the Erie Otters and Kitchener Rangers throughout his junior career.
In 207 games with both clubs, he has 176 points (80 goals, 96 assists) and a plus-17. He’s only 20 years old but one thing holding him back might be his size. Toronto typically doesn’t sign guys who are 5’8, 170 pounds so unless there’s a big shift in philosophy, he may be on the outs plus his NCAA commitment hurts things.
Then you have five former draft picks whose rights expired but are still able to be signed as a free agent. They are Cooper Foster, Ethan Miedema, Brad Gardiner, Alex Pharand, and Carter Sotheran.
Four are forwards and they all seem to offer different styles of play. Pharand is a defensively minded forward who loves to back check, uses his large frame to disrupt opponents and has some pretty solid hands.
He has 38 points in 59 games with both the Windsor Spitfires and Sudbury Wolves and was drafted 99th overall by Chicago in 2023.
Miedema is a towering power forward who has great hands and playmaking ability though his defensive game leaves a bit to be desired. He has 231 points (96 goals, 135 assists) in 325 OHL games split with Windsor, Kingston, and Guelph and was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
Foster would make a lot of sense as he is a playmaking center with great hands, vision and exceptional defense. He was drafted 174th overall by the Penguins in 2023 and for his OHL career has 202 points (84 goals, 118 assists) in 247 games.
If Toronto is moving on from their older pivots and replacing them with Jacob Quillan and the like; you need bodies to fill at the AHL level.
Gardiner is another solid choice up the middle as he is a great two-way piece with an NHL-level shot, and truly had a breakout season this year.
In 59 games he has 55 points (27 goals, 28 assists) and for his career has 188 points (83 goals, 105 assists) with the Ottawa 67’s and Barrie Colts; he was drafted 79th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2023.
Sotheran, also another NCAA commitment, has great vision for a defenceman and standing 6’4 he’s a massive presence on the ice. He has 159 points in 259 games (40 goals, 119 assists) with Portland and Edmonton of the WHL.
Going down the rest of the list, Smith is a scoring power forward who can play both the wing and center, and his size gives him a great advantage over opponents; he has 176 points in 255 games (87 goals, 89 goals) with Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and Kelowna.
Petrovski is a smooth skating offensive defender who is currently with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. Another big body, the Mississauga native has 126 points in 290 games and could provide some more offensive help on the back end.
McGowan is a speedy defender who doesn’t have the same offensive skillset as someone like Sotheran or Petrovski but still has solid numbers with 82 points (22 goals, 60 assists) in 200 games for the Kingston Frontenacs.
Finally we come to Leslie, who despite his smaller stature loves to play phyisical and throws a ton of hits. He’s a tenacious defender who has a booming shot that could help rebuild the Marlies defensive side if they bring up some names post-deadline.
He has 247 points in 338 games with Vancouver and Kelowna, and could be a young version of Troy Stecher; a no-nonsense defenseman with good hands and great passing instincts.
So it will be interesting to see how the Maple Leafs approach the undrafted free agents available, but given the vast amount of players available — it’s at least worth a shot.
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