Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Is New Guy, Colin Blackwell?

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman, Mark Giordano, and forward, Colin Blackwell, from the Seattle Kraken on Sunday for a 2022 2nd round draft pick, a 2023 2nd round draft pick and a 2024 third round draft pick.

Most Toronto Maple Leafs fans are familiar with former Norris trophy winner, Mark Giordano, but who is Colin Blackwell and what will he bring to the Toronto Maple Leafs? (some info from CapFriendly.com)

Colin Blackwell was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 7th round (194th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft after scoring 33 goals and 66 points in 25 games for his high school, St. Johns Prep, in Danver, Massachusetts.  After getting drafted, Blackwell attended Harvard University for four years playing with the Harvard Crimson.

After college, Blackwell spent the 2016-17 season with the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, recording 11 points in 57 games.  The Sharks did not sign him to an NHL contract and lost his rights in 2017.

Blackwell then spent the 2017-18 season with the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, and put up 17 goals and 45 points in 61 games.  However, Blackwell still wasn’t signed to an NHL contract that season but did sign his first NHL deal with the Nashville Predators as a free agent in July 2018.

During the 2018-19 season, Colin Blackwell played his first six NHL games, and after recording 23 points in 26 games with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals in 2019-20, Blackwell finished the season with the Nashville Predators with 10 points in 27 games.

Colin Blackwell then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers before the 2020-21 season scoring 12 goals and 22 points in 47 games and was then selected by the Seattle Kraken in their expansion draft.

Colin Blackwell on the Toronto Maple Leafs

Now 28 years old, Colin Blackwell played fourth line minutes for the Seattle Kraken scoring eight goals and 17 points in 39 games which are great numbers for a fourth line player.  He has NHL experience at all three forward positions but is probably best suited on the wing since he hasn’t had a ton of faceoff success at the NHL level.

Blackwell has a high compete level when battling for pucks despite his 5’9 frame, but he lacks elite stickhandling skills.  He’ll probably play on the Toronto Maple Leafs fourth line which seems to be in need of a boost recently.

Colin Blackwell is a pending UFA earning $725,000 making him an inexpensive versatile depth forward with upside.  Welcome to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colin Blackwell!