Maple Leafs sign 6'5 defenseman Nicolas Mattinen

Funny enough, Mattinen was originally the Leafs' 6th round draft pick back in 2016 - the same year in which they drafted Auston Matthews 1st overall. Mattinen was selected 179th overall that season. The former London Knights defenseman went on to play 3 more OHL seasons with London, Flint, Hamilton and Oshawa before playing two seasons for the University of Ottawa. Once his collegiate career ended, Mattinen enjoyed an 8-game cup of coffee with the AHL's Laval Rocket before taking his talents to Austria and Germany for the last two seasons.

Mattinen's journey will come full circle, as his 1-year, 2-way deal with the Leafs will start next season after a couple of standout seasons in Europe, posting 12 goals and 42 points with VSV EC in Austria in 2022-23, following that up with a 16-goal 46-point season with the Straubing Tigers in the DEL this season.

At 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds, the 26-year old right handed defenseman fits the mold that Brad Treliving seems to covet. He's big-bodied defenseman with a long reach, much like Joel Edmundson and Cade Webber - two of the most recent Leafs acquisitions on the blueline.

As far as what the plan is for Mattinen, he'll likely be in the mix for the big club in training camp, but appears far more likely to be destined for a run with the Marlies next season to show what he can do.