The Toronto Maple Leafs continued to lock up players in their prospect pool and in the pipeline for the NHL, signing 2018 draft pick Mac Hollowell to a three-year entry-level contract. The 20-year-old was selected in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, TX last June and is having a banner year for the Soo Greyhounds, leading all OHL defensemen with 72 points (23 goals, 49 assists).
The Niagara Falls, ON native is expected to finish out the season with the Greyhounds (who are in the mix to come out of the OHL to compete for the Memorial Cup) and play in the American Hockey League next season.
Hollowell was the third signing by the Leafs this week, after goalie Garret Sparks and defenseman Andreas Borgman were signed to one-year extensions. It is also third player from GM Kyle Dubas’ first draft class (Rasmus Sandin and Semyon Der-Argushintsev) to be locked up on ELC’s. Toronto has until June, 2020 to sign the rest of their 2018 picks to deals, but the clock is running out for unsigned players selected in 2017 and earlier drafts.
Timothy Liljegren and goalie Ian Scott have been signed, but the club has to sign blueliner Fedor Gordeev or center Ryan McGregor before June or they will re-enter the NHL Draft. Gordeev was traded from Flint to Guelph this season and has 27 points in 57 OHL games this season, while McGregor is second in scoring for the Sting with 72 points (24 goals, 48 assists) in 57 games.
Other situations that bear watching are that of 2016 third rounder Joseph Woll and 2014 fifth rounder Dakota Joshua.
Woll is having a good junior season at Boston College (2.41 GAA, .917 save percentage in 32 games) and would have to be signed before July if he turns pro after the Eagles NCAA season is complete.
Joshua is in his senior season at Ohio State and while his offensive numbers have dropped slightly (22 points in 30 games), the 6’3” 200 lb. center is a good skater with size and plays with a nasty edge, which the Leafs organization could use. Once the Buckeyes season is complete, Toronto has to sign the big forward or like Woll, he would become an unrestricted free agent.
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The Leafs practiced in Vancouver on Friday travel to Edmonton for the final game of their three-game Western Canada road swing against the Oilers on Saturday.
Nazem Kadri practiced between wingers Patrick Marleau and William Nylander and head coach Mike Babcock said that the injured center will be back in the lineup after missing eight games with concussion symptoms.
Frederik Gauthier was not on the ice for practice, and the fourth line was a new combo of Tyler Ennis, Nic Petan and Connor Brown. With the return of Kadri, it is possible that Trevor Moore could be sent back to the AHL as he was brought up on emergency recall.
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