Leafs add defensive depth, sign a pair of prospects to AHL deals
Depth is never a bad thing - especially when it comes to blueliners. On Thursday, the Leafs' AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies announced via Twitter that they have signed a pair of young defenseman to AHL contracts.
The Marlies have inked 23-year-old Noel Hoefenmayer and 23-year-old Matteo Pietroniro to one-year contracts. Both Hoefenmayer and Pietroniro played their 2021-22 seasons with the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers. Hoefenmayer notched 40 points in 46 games, while Pietroniro amassed 27 points in 59 games. Both blueliners saw limited time with the Marlies last season, with Hoefenmayer producing 3 assists in 8 AHL games, while Pietroniro was held off the scoresheet in 3 AHL appearances.
It's still too early to project where Hoefenmayer and Pietroniro will play, but I'd imagine that the intention is to have them start in the ECHL once again. A quick look at the Leafs' CapFriendly page reveals a logjam on defense with the AHL's Toronto Marlies - even if Teemu Kivihalme and the disgruntled Joseph Duszak walk as free agents (if Duszak is not qualified). Without Kivihalme (UFA) and Duszak (RFA with arb rights), the Marlies still have Mikko Kokkonen, William Villeneuve, Filip Kral, Mac Hollowell and Carl Dahlstrom signed through next season, as well as Chad Krys and Kristian Rubins (both RFAs who are likely to be qualified).
The Leafs also have Fins Axel Rindell and Topi Niemela signed to ELC's as options for the Marlies, but both are expected to return to their SM-liiga team (Karpat) for the 2022-23 season. We could, however, see one or both return to North America at the end of Karpat's season.
With the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and free agency now under a month away, we may yet see additional pieces coming in and going out as well, so we'll have a clearer picture of the layout of the land by this time next month.
