The Maple Leafs announced Monday night that they signed a high-scoring and highly sought-after NCAA free agent centre to a multi-year deal.
Over the weekend, the Leafs added to their defensive depth signing NCAA free agent John Prokop out of Union College.
It was reported that the Leafs weren't done scouring the NCAA free agent market and Monday, the club announced they signed Luke Haymes to a two-year entry-level contract. The Leafs also reported that Haymes will join the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the season on an amateur tryout.
Haymes, who attended Leafs development camp in 2023, was a relatively unknown commodity until Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman connected him to the Leafs back in February.
'Towards the end of last week, somebody put him on my radar... I've heard a few teams are starting to ask about when they can talk to him and I think it's some of the heavy-hitters,' said Friedman on the February 10th edition of '32 Thoughts'. 'I think Toronto is one of them. I've heard the Maple Leafs are interested.'
The 6'1, 203-pound Ottawa, Ontario native is just 21-years-old and has recorded 70 points in 83 games across three seasons with Dartmouth in the NCAA, including 12 goals and 18 points in an injury shortened season this year.
After dealing Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins, in the Brandon Carlo deal, the Leafs have seemingly found a bigger replacement.
