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The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to make the most of the end of a disappointing season.
They did that on Friday by signing a talented player to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The new guy? Hayes Hundley.
Hundley is a 6-foot-3 defenseman who was just playing at St. Thomas (Minnesota) in the NCAA ranks.
He'll head to the Toronto Marlies in the AHL for the rest of the season.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 27, 2026MORE: Alex Ovechkin snaps an unfathomable streak
At St. Thomas this season, Hundley had six goals and six assists (12 points) in 38 games.
The 21-year old made the CCHA All-Rookie Team.
He came to the college ranks from the USHL, where he appeared in 58 games for the Fargo Force in 2024-25.
Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis wrote this assessment of Hundley on X:
"Aggressive blueliner who gives you little to work with. Doesn't produce much, but he's physical and reads plays well. Only spent one year in college, but a bunch of teams showed interest."
Hundley had more college eligibility left, so his decision to turn pro now likely exhibits some self-confidence as well as belief of NHL teams that Hundley really can turn into a legitimate professional defenseman.
For the Maple Leafs, they'll simply hope to see good things out of Hundley with the Marlies the rest of the way this season before proceeding with his development plans.
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