The seventh-round pick in 2022 scored 42 goals last season with the Saskatoon Blades, but the Leafs decided not to sign the forward to an entry-level contract.
Brandon Lisowsky has always had to prove his doubters wrong.
Listed at 5'9", the odds were always stacked against the Port Coquitlam, BC, native as he looked to overcome his size.
After scoring 42 goals and adding 38 assists in 68 games with the Saskatoon Blades, the seventh-round (218th overall) selection from 2022 wasn't surprised he wasn't extended an entry-level contract, but he was disappointed.
"It was really hard for him not to get signed," Maple Leafs assistant GM Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser said earlier in the week. "But we have talked to him about being positive, coming here, having a great camp and looking at what we can do moving forward,"
When the Leafs declined to extend a contract, Lisowsky re-entered the draft but went unselected. That's when he took Toronto's invite to come back for another development camp.
"I mean, they had a lot of guys that were free agents or whatever. They had a lot of things, you know, a new GM (Brad Treliving) and stuff. But yeah, I didn't really take it too much as a personal thing," Lisowsky explained about Toronto's decision. "It's a business now. It's not like junior anymore. It's a pro level, so I didn't take it personally.
"Obviously, I wanted it, but I'm happy that they want to be back, and I love being here."
The 20-year-old is eligible to return to the Blades for one more season but intends to play pro hockey somewhere. The Leafs could extend him an AHL contract, which he says is his preference.
The explanation Toronto reasoned about the contracts to sign is a valid reason for the Leafs. Outside of very few exceptions, Toronto can only have 50 contracts signed in a season at any time. Teams generally keep that number much lower so they have room to add more players later in the season.
Toronto is at 43 contracts. That doesn't include Connor Dewar, who filed arbitration and Nick Robertson (although he's reportedly requested a trade, it's not impossible he is back. That already puts the Leafs at a possible number of 45 contracts while the club still looks to add forward depth.
During his summer, Lisowsky said he's going to continue to work on his skating and strength while working on the defensive side of the game, while not losing sight of his offensive update.
An AHL-only contract with the Marlies would be a good starting point.
"I always try to prove people wrong. That's kind of what you do as an undersized guy. A lot of people take you as an undersized guy or whatever, but I don't take that personal," Lisowsky said. "I take it as a kind of fuel to keep getting better and show people that you can do it at any size."
