Marlies sign NCAA free agent goalie Dryden McKay

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1518652556603535362

Small edit, he's actually been signed to an AHL deal by the Marlies:
https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies/status/1518658476930707461

[Highlander]

By all indications he is a very good Goalie and the Leafs were not shy to sign him under the circumstances.

[azzurri63]

Only negative thing I'm reading is his size only 5'11". Awesome numbers in college. See how it translates to the pro level. Leafs are very thin in the goaltending department so good signing.

[CarltonTheBear]

McKay's numbers are probably slightly inflated due to the fact that he's a little on the older side (24, turns 25 in November) and he plays behind a pretty good team in a weaker NCAA conference. But hard to deny his accolades and would have been a decent bet even on a NHL deal so getting him on a AHL deal first is even better.

[herman]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Joe]

So which nhl team is going to try and screw the leafs somehow on this one?

[bustaheims]

Basically a no risk move here. If it works out, cool. If it doesn't? Oh well.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

So which nhl team is going to try and screw the leafs somehow on this one?

BREAKING: The Arizona Coyotes have forcibly traded G Harri Sateri to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for G Dryden McKay, Bronze Statues of G Ken Dryden and F Randy McKay, + a 1st in 2023.

[CarltonTheBear]

So which nhl team is going to try and screw the leafs somehow on this one?

He's going to win 1 ECHL game and then like Columbus or somebody will sign him to a big league deal with a promise of guaranteed NHL starts.

[Zee]

Not really sure how it works but was no other team offering him an NHL deal right away so he settled for AHL only?  If he works out how could the Leafs get him onto an NHL deal?

[CarltonTheBear]

Not really sure how it works but was no other team offering him an NHL deal right away so he settled for AHL only?

I mean there's a chance somebody was offering him an actual ELC and he just decided that playing in Newfoundland or with the Marlies would be better than any other ECHL or AHL team as he starts his professional career, but we likely won't really know.

If he works out how could the Leafs get him onto an NHL deal?

By signing him to one. He is still basically considered an UFA. The Leafs, or any other NHL team, could sign him to a NHL deal tomorrow or during training camp or whenever really.

[Zee]

Not really sure how it works but was no other team offering him an NHL deal right away so he settled for AHL only?

I mean there's a chance somebody was offering him an actual ELC and he just decided that playing in Newfoundland or with the Marlies would be better than any other ECHL or AHL team as he starts his professional career, but we likely won't really know.

If he works out how could the Leafs get him onto an NHL deal?

By signing him to one. He is still basically considered an UFA. The Leafs, or any other NHL team, could sign him to a NHL deal tomorrow or during training camp or whenever really.

So I guess same boat at that Petruzzelli goalie they signed too.  Seems like the Leafs are trying to throw as many goalie darts at a board as possible and hoping one sticks. Would be nice if one guy comes out and actually becomes something for this team.

[herman]

It's the same calculus for Petruzelli. Why Toronto on an AHL deal?

- NHL level facilities and training resources
- real playing and development time, not backup scraps on a bottom feeder
- build enough of a base and he can sign with anybody with a real offer and opportunity (probably the Leafs when their goalie inevitably succumbs to boneitis)

[RedLeaf]

How can you lose with Dryden in net.

[Guilt Trip]

How can you lose with Dryden in net.

Dave wasn't very good lol...sorry.