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The Toronto Maple Leafs have started to get some of their prospects locked up, as 2016 second-round pick Carl Grundstrom was signed to a three-year entry-level contract and 2014 fourth rounder JJ Piccinich agreed to a two-year AHL contract.
The 19-year-old Grundstrom scored 14 goals and six assists in 45 games for Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League this season and seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) playing on Sweden’s top line with Buffalo first rounder Alex Nylander and Minnesota prospect Joel Eriksson-Ek at the 2017 World Junior Tournament in Montreal and Toronto last January.
Grundstrom has been compared to current Leaf Leo Komarov for his combative nature and feistiness. The winger has played three seasons in the SHL and turns 20 in December, which likely means that Toronto will bring him to North America in the fall.
Piccinich, 20, scored 30 goals and won a Memorial Cup in his first OHL season with London after playing a season with Boston University in the NCAA. The Knights named the Paramus, NJ native their team captain last November and the winger finished second in team scoring with 72 points (26 goals, 46 assists) in 66 games this season.
Toronto is endeavoring to get their lower round draft picks who may need time in the minors signed to AHL deals instead of signing an entry-level NHL contract that would count against the 50 pro contract limit.
The Leafs did that with 2011 selection Tony Cameranesi and may try to do the same with 2012 pick Dominic Toninato (who completed his NCAA career with Minnesota-Duluth), 2014 seventh rounder Pierre Engvall (who signed an amateur tryout with the Marlies earlier this month) and 2015 seventh rounder Stephen Desrocher (who played his fifth OHL season in Kingston).
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A report from the Swedish website
Expressen on Friday indicates that Swedish free agent defenseman Calle Rosen will sign with Toronto after the upcoming World Championships in France and Germany starting next week.
The Athletic’s David Alter and Scott Powers reported earlier this week that the Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks were interested in the 23-year-old blueliner, who played for Vaxjo HC of the Swedish Hockey League and had 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) and +19 last season.
The undrafted free agent would be limited to a two-year entry-level contract.
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