Elliotte Friedman: Toronto Maple Leafs Showing Heavy Interest in Star Hockey Player
A new report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has the Maple Leaks linked to a standout NCAA forward.
The Maple Leafs future is looking fairly bright with prospects such as Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, and Ben Danford among others. They've enjoyed the breakout of Matthew Knies, and could be in line to add another NCAA standout: Dartmouth's Luke Haymes.
A new episode of Friedman's podcast 32 Thoughts talks about how much attention Haymes is drawing due to his hot start:
I think Toronto is one of them, I heard the [Leafs] are interested... Just keep an eye out on this namer cause there will be some action regarding him in the near future.
So if Toronto is interested -- What can the Maple Leafs expect from Luke Haymes?
Who Is Luke Haymes?
Haymes, 21, is an Ottawa native and is currently in his third season at Dartmouth College.
The 6'1, 203-pound forward has 26 goals and 26 assists in 73 games with Dartmouth (including 2024-25). He played one season in the BCHL before heading to college, scoring 22 goals and 27 assists in 52 games.
Haymes has some familiarity with the Maple Leafs, as he attended their development camp in 2023 -- although the team has drastically changed since then.
He could follow in the footsteps of other NCAA standouts that have signed with the Maple Leafs including Matthew Knies and Jacob Quillan.
We all know what Knies has done, and Quillan earned a call-up this season after a strong showing in the AHL; it's feasible that Haymes can come in and do the same thing.
If Toronto is concerned about their lack of offense in the bottom half of the lineup, why not sign Haymes and give him a look? It worked out with Knies and Toronto really can't get worse offensively.
What do YOU think? Should Toronto sign Luke Haymes and try to recreate the Matthew Knies magic? Let us know!
