Scout and analyst calls underrated Leafs prospect "a lock to play NHL games"

Prior to the end of last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs took a swing on Quinnipiac University standout Jacob Quillan, signing the 22-year-old to an entry-level contract (ELC), worth $875,000 per season through the 2025-26 campaign.

Quillan had produced 17 goals and 46 points in 39 games for Quinnipiac last season and was a sought-after NCAA free agent, so the fact that the Leafs were able to nab him was extremely fortunate.

A strong 200-foot player, Quillan has caught the eye of a junior prospect analyst for Breakaway Scouts, who goes by @RyanMaReporting on Twitter, who actually called Quillan "a lock to play NHL games" due to his relentless motor, size, footspeed and defensive hockey IQ.

Interestingly enough, Ryan also likened Quillan to the brother of newly-signed Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev -- Brandon Tanev in Seattle.

Quillan will have his work cut out for him next season in the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies, but he did get a taste of the pro game at the end of last season, producing 1 assist in his 7-game trial. His offensive output is not likely to be high next season, but he remains a very intriguing prospect for the Leafs organization, purely for the intangibles he brings to the table.

Also, as an NCAA champion, he does have a winning pedigree as well, which is certainly an attractive quality for GMs looking to build a winning culture within their organization, so it was nice to see Brad Treliving edge out the competition for his services.

It's unlikely that we see Quillan in the NHL at any point this year, but if he can take a step this season, we could be looking at a dark horse candidate to make the Leafs out of training camp in 2025-26.