For the third day in a row this week the Toronto Maple Leafs signed a player, but this time it’s someone with no professional experience.

Mac Hollowell has been playing defense for the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds this season and has been a powerhouse at both ends of the ice. He’s the top scoring defender in the OHL, and third in overall scoring on the Greyhounds.

This is Hollowell’s final junior season, so this contract will take him to the Toronto Marlies next season, where we may see up to three defenders graduate to the Leafs roster.

Hollowell and the Greyhounds are preparing for a long playoff run in the OHL this spring, fighting for the second seed in the Western Conference. Redemption is on everyone’s mind after the Greyhounds lost the OHL Championship Series to the Hamilton Bulldogs last year.

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Hollowell went unranked in last summers Top 25 Under 25 list, but has played well enough to get himself onto next years list for sure.

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One interesting feature of the tweet from the Maple Leafs announcement is the word ‘future’. Does this mean that the ELC isn’t active right now? Will it count next season? When the Maple Leafs signed Ian Scott they didn’t tack on the word ‘future’ so it’s a very curious addition to the announcement.

Either way, the Maple Leafs are on a roll this week with contracts. We’ve seen Garret Sparks and Andreas Borgman get extensions, now Mac Hollowell gets an ELC.

Is Mitch Marner next?

Free Agents and ContractsMaple Leafs Prospects