One guy who still does not have a deal yet but could be a Leaf come 2022-2023

Nick Abruzzese.

I know hes 22 and didnt play last season but the kid's good 18 points in 12 NCAA games with last season having 44 points in 31 games including 14 goals.

Can play Center and LW and with some time could see 2nd line potential out of him (Like Kerfoot)

Hopefully he gets a deal soon so we can see him get some NHL games as I believe despite being 22 he can contribute to this team

#LeafsForever prospect Nick Abruzzese scores with a quick one-timer from in tight. pic.twitter.com/ucOdf5tXq6

— Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) January 8, 2022

Only 2 guys I have seen perform that shot this season Spezza and Draisaitl

Maybe I’m biased toward Chl players but I’ve never gotten they hype for Abbruzzuze. The fact that he’s already 22 doesn’t make me think he’ll be anymore than a 4th line/ healthy scratch.

Remember a kid name Bunting?

Stuck in the AHL till 25 comes up, makes people go how the **** was he in the AHL that long

Signs in Toronto on a steal deal, is doing pretty well rn and is playing on the top line

And thats why I never look at a prospects age as a factor. As Nick could come in and just light up the NHL or yes be reduced to a 4th liner. But rn Nick has the tools to be a 2nd liner despite his size so I am willing to wait and see. As man this kid could surprise people

Also apply what I said above to Campbell lul

Not everybody who ever becomes anything does it as a teenager. There are plenty of guys who arrive later and still become impactful players. Bunting was already mentioned, Kerfoot and Hyman didn't make their debuts until they were 23. Hell, Jack Campbell is celebrating his 30th birthday today and is just in the process of cementing himself as an NHL starter. And those are just recent Leaf related examples off the top of my head. Different guys have different timelines.

Im so ashamed

WHY DID I USE BUNTING OVER CAMPBELL

JK but all seriousness his is the better example lul

SNIPED IT UPSTAIRS#GoKnightsGo | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/r7K172Xfpz

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) January 9, 2022

First career OHL goal

The #Canes have signed Jack LaFontaine, the reigning Mike Richter Award winner, to an Entry-Level Contract https://t.co/1vPamYbdoW

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 9, 2022

Just an embarrassment of riches:
Jack LaFontaine
Eetu Makiniemi
Pyotr Kochetkov
Nikita Quapp

Hard time ever getting hyped for this guy. I want to believe people deserve a second chance, but as someone who has a little sister, don’t think I will ever root for him.

Oh it happens sometimes, for sure, but it's pretty rare. Like, if we want to go the maple leafs rout, Matthews, Tavares, Rielly, Marner, Nylander, Simmonds, Spezza, Dermott, Ritchie, Clifford, Sandin, Liljgeren, Brodie, Kase and Mrazek were all in the nhl when they were younger than Abbruzzese.

Hope I'm wrong, but not very confident in his ability to play high in the lineup at an nhl level.

I am with you, never understood the hype around Abruzzese. Was always near the top of Leafs prospects list even missing a full College season. I’d still be interested in seeing him with the Marlies next year, but I would agree he is nothing more than a 4th C that bounces between the AHL/NHL. Would love to be wrong tho

The Hamilton Bulldogs have acquired forward Mason McTavish from the Peterborough Petes.Details: https://t.co/A5xPADiNaf#DawgMentality #OHL #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/onfts0i41v

— Hamilton Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) January 9, 2022

Hamilton seems to be going for a cup run. They traded away a total of 11 picks in the last few days to acquire McTavish and Xhekaj.

if connor mcdavid cellied like this the nhl could actually grow the game pic.twitter.com/2iwjl0lmDn

— . (@_carterhart) January 9, 2022

Ya, I don't get why people seem to like to rank him over guys like Abramov, Hirvonen, SDA, etc.

This is my mindset on Abruzzese too. Like, you’d think people would have learned from Bracco. Not every diminutive playmaker is the next Gaudreau or Marner. Most of them never make it, especially when it takes them this long to crack the NHL, because they have a top 6 skill set, and if they aren’t good enough to be in an NHL top 6, then they won’t make it. Same kinda thing with SDA.

I wish we saw trades like this in the NHL lol

What’s the thought process on that

Bulldogs are just going all in for a pure rental but for the Championship. McTavish is a borderline NHL player. The line is just that he isnt play in the NHL this year pretty much - hes turned out to be a sick pick for the Ducks.

Huge trade basically.

One thing’s for sure, whether you think Mailloux should’ve gotten more/less punishment, etc, the story will always follow him and he’ll have to work to get rid of the shadow if he wants to

Can we talk about Ben Meyers just owning this week? #Gophers Saturday: 2-0–2Friday: 2-1--3Monday: 2-0--2 (EXH)Sunday: 1-1--2 (EXH)TOTAL: 7-2--9 pic.twitter.com/ek6WrpXkrz

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 9, 2022

Going to be one of the more highly sought after College free agents this year

He should be probs #4 or #5 in top 5 NCAA hockey free agents thats for sure

RN my NCAA FA list

1. Taylor Ward
2. Jake Livingstone
3. Parker Ford
4. Ben Meyers
5. Owen Sillinger

Jake Livingstone is the guy I hope we look into. As I like what he brings.

Great game for the Ducks tonight. Lukas Dostal and Brayden Tracey made their NHL debuts. Dostal continues to give off major starter vibes and I think he can be a great goalie at the NHL-level. His movement is very impressive and he continues to be underrated, probably due to being in the Ducks' and not say the Habs' system.

Ya, there is going to be a lot of NHL teams interested in Livingstone. For me I hope the Leafs look at:
Nick Blankenburg
AJ Vanderbeck
Yaniv Pertes

Condors beat the mini Canucks 4-0 last night and Stuey Skinner got his second Shutout of the AHL season and Lavoie had 2 goals

habs catching a wild stray for no reason.

Watching Levi in those juniors just had me feeling he was NOT a one hit wonder. He just looked so strong; and didn't look like someone playing out of their mind that was burning bright and gonna fizzle out.

Can't wait to see what he can do in Rochester.