Underrated Maple Leafs prospect is using a relentless work ethic to force an imminent NHL debut
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Landon Sim is a sixth-round pick with a mean streak. He also has a father who is Craig Berube's close friend and a former teammate and in the NHL, connections matter.
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Landon Sim is one of the organization most physically engaging players, and it could be his pathway to the NHL.
The 21-year-old forward out of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League has made it to pro hockey as a high energy forward with a mean streak.
Not afraid to throw his body around and take punches, Landon Sim is a player the Leafs will be monitoring his process, because it's his traits that make him appealing.
Landon Sim is the energy the Leafs roster has been missing
As a player with insatiable grit, Landon Sim is the type of player that the Leafs are desperate to have in their system. If he works as hard as he does in making the NHL, it could happen.
Plus, he does have a lot of familiarity playing alongside Easton Cowan in London, so it's possible he could be the protective shield around Toronto's prized prospect.
Offense is the one question mark for the 21-year-old. He's never been a major driver of offense. Even in 7 AHL games this season he has just a point, having just scored his first AHL goal yesterday.
Although his game isn't revolving around scoring, he'll need to show more with the puck to get out of the minors.
The best case scenario for Sim could be a Max Domi, both former London Knights with a mean streak. However, Sim would have to take another step offensively to get to that level.
He has the type of energy game necessary for the fourth line, but not being a very big or crafty player, the step between full time NHLer and call up is a tough one that Sim will have to prove he can overcome.
Craig Berube could be the X-Factor to Landon Sim's NHL career
If Landon Sim has a chance at making it at the NHL level, he has one more asset up his sleeve, a good relationship with Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
Sim was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, having been in prospect camps under Berube while he was coaching the Blues.
There is an even closer connection between Berube and Sim, with Landon's father Jon being a good friend of Craig Berube, and a scout for the Blues under Berube, a role the elder Sim still holds as of today.
Sim, a former NHLer, also played in Philadelphia when Berube was beginning his NHL career as an assistant coach. In fact, during Berube's first season as an assistant in the AHL, Sim was a leader for the Philadelphia Phantoms title win.
Craig Berube and Jon Sim are also friends with Landon's former London Knights bosses, Dale and Mark Hunter. There's a lot of friendly faces surrounding Landon Sim.
No one is saying these connections will give Landon Sim NHL minutes, but they provide him with trust from Craig Berube, and as long as he's an NHL coach, Sim will have some additional benefits to his NHL case as long as his play can back things up.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 23|829 ANSWERS Underrated Maple Leafs prospect is using a relentless work ethic to force an imminent NHL debut Does Landon Sim have a chance at making the Maple Leafs next year? | ||
| Yes | 414 | 49.9 % |
| No | 415 | 50.1 % |
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