Maple Leafs May Have Found a Diamond in the Rought in 6'3, Right-Shot Defensive Prospect
The Maple Leafs may rank near the bottom of the league in prospect rankings, but they may have found a gem of a defensive prospect through free agency.
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler recenlty ranked the Leafs' prospect pool 28th in the NHL which isn't a surprise given they have traded away a plethora of picks in recent years in attempts to go on deep playoff runs.
With a lack of picks, the Leafs have had to turn to their scouting staff and undrafted free agents to build their organizational depth in a different way. In doing so they have been able to find players like Bobby McMann, who started in the ECHL and worked his way into a two-year, one-way NHL deal last season.
The Leafs may have found another McMann-type of player, albeit a defensive version. At the end of last season, the Marlies signed Brampton Steelheads defenseman Chas Sharpe to a two-year deal that included a PTO, allowing him to join the Marlies at the end of the season for a game.
With a log-jam on the Leafs' and Marlies' bluelines, Sharpe found himself with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and is making the most of his opportunity.
The 21-year-old, right-shot defenseman was not initially deemed to be an offensive-minded defenseman, but his final year with the now Brampton Steelheads saw him post 19 goals and 53 points in 67 games.
The 6'3, 201-pound blueliner has carried his new-found offensive abilities over to his first professional season, tallying 14 goals and 24 points in 37 games so far. Not only does it lead the Cyclones in goals and points, but he is also tops in the ECHL in goals for defensemen.
The Leafs' organization should be cautiously optimistic with Sharpe given that he is 21, but if he is able to make the jump to the AHL and continue to show his offensive upside, he could very well find himself on the right side of the Leafs' blueline in a few years.
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