Maple Leafs Invite highly talented prospect Mazden Leslie to tournament

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James Connelly
September 9, 2023 (9:35)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are inviting a promising defensive prospect Mazden Leslie to their prospect tournament exciting fans for what he could bring.

The draft process is one that takes years for most NHL teams and scouts but sometimes it can take years for players as well. Mazden Leslie will be one of these players as the talented defenseman went undrafted in the 2023 draft, his first year of eligibility.

Mazden Leslie was ranked as a top prospect for the draft but was passed on by every single team. He impressed during the regular season posting 50 points in 66 games as a defenseman.

Here is a scouting report done on Mazden Leslie by Elite Prospects:

A non-stop activator and occasional manufacturer of offence, Leslie clearly has point-producing potential. When the puck arrives on his stick, he hammers it past goaltenders, manipulates opponents to create shooting lanes, chains pass receptions with dekes and shots, and occasionally shows high-level playmaking ability. At the other end of the rink, Leslie's all-out pressure. He throws crushing hits and erases shots with sprinting closeouts

The Maple Leafs have clearly seen the potential in Leslie and have tried to extend an olive branch to the young defender.

Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun recently revealed that the Leafs invited Leslie to their prospects tournament.

Leafs will soon unveil their roster for next week's Traverse City prospects tournament, but the WHL Vancouver Giants have posted that undrafted 6-foot-1 defenceman Mazden Leslie has been invited. Leslie had 50 points in 66 games for the Giants last season.

If Leslie is able to impress here, he could probably start his draft process off well and prove himself as a swing worth taking for the Maple Leafs.

Nonetheless, it is certain that this young man has a future in hockey whether that is the NHL, AHL, or elsewhere.