Toronto Maple Leafs: A Closer Look at the New Prospects Drafted This Week

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Easton Cowan is selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 28th overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Easton Cowan is selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 28th overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Jun 1, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager Brad Treliving is introduced Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Hudson Malinoski

Hudson Malinoski is a 19-year-old center from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He registered 16 goals and 53 assists for 69 points in 44 games with the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL. Malinoski is committed to Providence College in the NCAA next season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs  5th-round selection is lucky to be playing hockey.

In 2017, while shoveling snow on his roof to make a snowboard ramp for himself and his friend, Malinoski slipped and fell about 12 feet. He was taken to the emergency room at a Saskatoon hospital and given an initial diagnosis of a concussion.

His injury turned out to be much worse. Malinoski had a torn vertebral artery in his neck. It supplies blood to the brain and, if left untreated, could have caused a stroke or aneurysm. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever play hockey again, but he recovered from surgery and has now been drafted to the NHL.

Noah Chadwick

Noah Chadwick is an 18-year-old, 6’4, 190 Lbs defenseman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He registered five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 67 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL last season.

Hopefully, Chadwick will improve with more playing time this season and work on filling out his 6’4 frame. Toronto could benefit from having a big defenseman patrolling the blueline. One more year in the WHL before joining the Toronto Marlies is his most likely path toward playing in the NHL.