Ryan McGregor was drafted in 2017 by the Maple Leafs, 172nd overall, and he got a little lost  in a sea of prospects taken higher up, even though he’s been playing in the OHL all this time.  There’s not been much buzz around him. He is a centre who shoots left, and he’s an average-size for a hockey player.

His season with the Sarnia Sting is now over after a first round sweep by their rivals from Saginaw Michigan.  If the playoffs were a disappointment, his regular season as captain was anything but.  In 61 games, McGregor has 25 goals and 77 total points, good for 23rd in the OHL in points per game.

McGregor is now 20, as of January this year, so he should be expected to excel in junior hockey.

As you can see in his year-over-year results, mostly he increased his shot rate and perhaps his ice time, and everything rose along with that. A high shot rate is always what you want to see in a prospect. In the truncated playoffs, he was good for two goals and 22 shots, which is an extremely good shot rate.

The Marlies are in third place in their division, coming off a win last night, and they are likely to stay in that spot through to the playoffs which begin soon. Their weakest area is at centre, and McGregor may find a spot open for him on the regular roster if he can deliver the goods.

The Marlies play again tonight at home to the Laval Rocket.

The Maple Leafs hold McGregor’s NHL rights until this June 1. An ATO or an AHL contract does not affect those rights at all. If McGregor signs an AHL deal for next season, after his NHL rights expire, the Leafs do not maintain any special right to him for NHL contract purposes.

Maple Leafs Prospects