6 College Free Agents The Toronto Maple Leafs Could Sign
Over the next month or so, as teams are eliminated and NCAA seasons come to an end, there will be many players available to sign entry-level contracts in the NHL. College free agency is one of the many ways the Toronto Maple Leafs can replenish their prospect pipeline.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a long history of tapping into the NCAA pool and for good reason. It is an easy way to help restock the cupboards without spending a draft pick to make it happen.
Trevor Moore is a great example from recent years, providing a ton of value to the Marlies as they won their calder cup championship in 2018.
Although he did not stick around long as a Maple Leaf after being shipped off to the Los Angeles Kings in a trade for Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford. That in and of itself is a great testament to the potential value of NCAA free agents.
An older Leafs example would be Tyler Bozak who played as the Leafs top line center for many seasons alongside star winger Phil Kessel. Of course, many more NCAA free agents do not amount to much more than minor league contributors but regardless, there is value in that as well.
This year, there are a few candidates that could prove to be useful NHL players and I am going to highlight a few that the Leafs could be in on. (All Stats and information via EliteProspects.com).
5 College Free Agents The Toronto Maple Leafs Could Sign
Collin Graf, F - 21 Years-Old, from Quinnipiac University
Undoubtedly the cream of the crop when it comes to NCAA free agents this season, Graf is a playmaker, racking up 38 assists in 41 games last season en route to a championship winning year.
Although he does not have the point totals he did last year yet, his scoring pace has went from an impressive 1.44 Pts/GP last season to 1.59 this season.
There are sure to be many suitors vying for the winger’s talents and if the Leafs are lucky, he could choose them.
At only 21, he still has a couple key years of development left to refine his game. He may not be a needle-mover in the larger sense but the Leafs will need all the help they can get from cheap and young talent in the coming seasons.
T.J. Hughes, F 22 Years-Old, University of Michigan
Soon, the “H” in NHL will stand for Hughes, sadly however, T.J. has no relation to Luke, Jack, or Quinn.
The 22-year-old was born in Hamilton, Ontario and is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. Through 75 games at the NCAA level, he has scored 31 goals and 80 points.
Before attending college, Hughes was lighting up the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) amassing 194 points in 138 games, including 66 goals and 127 points in 60 games in 2021-22 with the Brooks Bandits.
Hughes is known for more than just his scoring prowess though, he plays a gritty style, often finding himself in the net-front area.
As of right now, the Leafs bottom-six picture looks to be very foggy heading into next season and beyond with only nine forwards total having a contract for next season.
Hughes may not be NHL-ready out of the gate but if signed, he could be a useful depth piece worthy of a call-up throughout the year.
Jacob Quillan 22 years-old, Quinnipiac University
Quillan is a two-way forward who displays solid playmaking abilities, coupled with a deft transition game, making him an offensive threat at the NCAA level.
He has seen consistent progression in production year-over-year with 38 points in 41 games last year and 39 in 34 so far. He tops off his offensive game with a sound defensive game both at 5v5 and on the PK.
Much like most players on this list, he projects to have limited NHL upside, most likely to fill a bottom-six role.
If his offensive game translates, he could become a decently productive depth player.
Luke Krys, D 23 years-old, Providence College
Krys is a right-handed defender standing 6-2 and weighing 185 lbs. He is mobile and uses his frame to separate players from pucks, making him likely to be a hot commodity when he is available.
Following recent Leafs’ acquisitions, he would likely be relatively high on the Leafs radar for college free agents.
It should be noted that Luke’s brother Chad was a member of the Leafs organization in 2021-22.
This may or may not give the team an upper hand but if it does, I would expect the team to sign him if given the chance, especially with the lack of right shot blueliners on the depth chart.
Jaxon Nelson, F 23 years-old, University of Minnesota
Nelson has all of the physical tools to mould himself into a net-front bottom-six contributor at the next level.
Like many players his size (6-4, 225lbs) he is not fleet of foot and likely won’t find himself on highlight reels, but he has a hard-nosed and imposing style that many teams covet in the bottom half of their lineup.
He is not the most offensively gifted player, currently setting career highs this season with 16 goals and 28 points through 36 games.
Yet, his frame and gritty style could make him a useful addition as a depth player either in the NHL or as an AHL call-up candidate.
Dylan Anhorn, D 25 years-old, St. Cloud State
At 25 years old, there is little room for Anhorn to develop a lot however, he has the potential to immediately be a strong contributor at the pro-level.
He has blown away the college ranks the last few years, racking up 75 points through 86 games played as a defenseman between Union College and St. Cloud.
He possesses great underlying numbers to go with his production and is a very capable and mobile two-way defender. He also has the physical attributes that many look for in a pro defender listed at 6-0 and 190lbs.
Even if Anhorn does not reach the hype, he should be able to translate his game to the AHL and become a solid depth option going forward. If he does hit his potential, he could be a solid #4-6 on the backend.
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Either way, Anhorn will be a valuable and hot commodity on the free agent market and could provide depth to any team immediately upon signing.