Toronto Maple Leafs on the Verge of Losing Four Prospects This Summer
The Toronto Maple Leafs have far from the best prospect pool in the league, but now the team is facing some tough decisions with some of their unsigned players.
Leafs In Danger Of Losing Rights To Unsigned Prospects
When NHL teams draft players, they do not retain their rights forever. How long they get to keep the rights depends on what league the player was drafted from and what round they were drafted in. For the Leafs this year, they have four notable prospects that are due contracts by July 1st, otherwise they become UFAs. The first player is forward Veeti Miettinen, whom the Leafs drafted in the 6th round back in 2020. He has 17 goals and 32 points in 33 games at the NCAA level this season, making a decent case for the Leafs to offer him his entry-level-contract.
St. Cloud, who have lost 4 straight, faces Western Michigan in the NCHC quarters this weekend.
Totals (NCAA): 33 GP, 17 G, 32 PTS, 116 SOG
Brandon Lisowsky is another late round pick that has developed reasonably well for the Leafs. He was picked in the 7th round in 2022, and has since put up back-to-back 71-point seasons in the WHL. It might just be enough for him to earn a deal with the Leafs, but he still has more development time before he ever cracks an NHL lineup.
Totals (WHL): 62 GP, 36 G, 71 PTS, +23, 278 SOG
Lesser Known Leafs Prospects At Risk Of Not Getting Contract Offers
While Lisowsky and Miettinen both have a decent shot at getting ELC offers, the reality is that some, if not all of these players won't get a contract offer. Keep in mind NHL clubs are only allowed 50 contracts at a given time. Among those prospects that are at risk of being dropped by the team are Mike Koster and Cade Webber.
Nick Moldenhauer: 34GP, 7G, 19GP
Mike Koster: 28GP, 2G, 13P
Webber is a bit more interesting that Koster as the Leafs just acquired him in a trade, but he was likely more of a throw in than anything else. He's already 23 and put up just 6 points, all assists in 32 games at the NCAA level this season.
- Tall
- Blocks a ton of shots
- Has done very well academically
- Would be surprised if he ever becomes an NHLer, but wasn't going to sign in Carolina
As seen on Leafs facing the very real risk of losing 4 prospects this summer
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Leafs will sign these prospects before they lose their rights? | ||
| Yes, all of them | 173 | 29.1 % |
| Yes, some of them | 356 | 59.8 % |
| No | 66 | 11.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
