James “J.D.” Greenway is a left-shooting defender who was chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs 72nd overall in the 2016 draft out of the USNTDP. He was at that time a commit to the University of Wisconsin, and he’s played two seasons there, although this year he missed most of the games for undisclosed personal reasons. He is not injured.

A few weeks ago, the Chicago Steel of the USHL obtained his rights, signalling that he was likely going to enter the USHL which is a junior league in the USA. Most of the players are in high school. But the age limit allows Greenway, who just turned 20 to play for one season.

Today we learned that Chicago Steel has traded his rights to the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints have acquired defenseman J.D. Greenway (Canton, N.Y./Toronto Maple Leafs (2016)) and a 2019 Phase II 6th Round pick from the Chicago Steel in exchange for defenseman Casey Staum (Falcon Heights, Minn./Montréal Canadiens (2016)), forward Jake Hale (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota-Duluth), forward Matthew Brown (Wood-Ridge, N.J./UMass-Lowell), defenseman Jaden Shields (Royal Oak, Mich.), and a 2019 draft selection to be determined.

By taking a step back in his hockey career, it’s very clear he is highly sought after.

Greenway, as an NCAA player at the draft, still has four-year draft rights. The Leafs have until 2020 to make a decision on him. I believe if he does not return to an NCAA program his rights expire on June 1 of that year, not August 15, but the CBA is wondrous and strange so don’t take that to the bank.

The Dubuque team plays in the same USHL division as the USNTDP, and that might just sting a little, to be facing the star-studded National Team Development Program he used to be a part of.

Good luck to J.D., and we hope this move works out for him.

Maple Leafs Prospects