Leafs organization signs former Ottawa Senators 2nd round pick as an NCAA free agent

Jonny Tychonick, the Sens' 2nd round pick (48th overall) in 2018, is a left shot defenseman who played 5 seasons of college hockey, split between North Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha. Today, the Marlies announced that they've signed him to a 2-year deal after a breakout season for Nebraska-Omaha.

The 23-year-old blueliner put up 31 points combined in his first four years of college puck before really opening things up this year and nearly doubling his career production in one season. This year, Tychonick scored an NCAA career high 8 goals, adding 18 assists for a total of 26 points.

The Score's Kyle Cushman pointed out that his 2-year term is a bit deceiving. Tychonick's deal starts this season, which means that he'll be signed only through next season.

This could be a good springboard opportunity for Tychonick. This is also a low-risk move for the Leafs organization. There are multitude of ways that this can play out. Either he plays well and earns himself another contract with the Marlies, he plays well enough to earn an NHL contract with the Leafs or another NHL club, or the organization gets a look at him over the next year and change and decides not to re-sign him. Just another dart for the dart board, so to speak.