Mac Hollowell has signed a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

with losing durzi he could possibly be a steal for a 4th round pick, been brilliant in ohl hope he starts for marlies next year and keeps producing same numbers

his problem is he's really undersized. Players at the OHL level are smaller and slower. He has an uphill climb.

Ian White was small and looked how his career went.

that doesn't mean anything.
There is a big jump from the OHL to the NHL. His lack of size, inability to clear the net to help the goal tender etc... will all be an issue for him.
No one is saying it's impossible. But the odds are really against him. Not many defense men under 6 foot. And of those that are not many under 5'10.
Like Krug is the only one that comes to mind and everybody in boston wants to trade him. He probably wouldn't work on any other team that doesn't have Chara on the ice.
Defense men get hit by that forecheck a lot. He'll have to be hidden on the ice. Limited role. Not much opportunity with that.

That was a backhanded commented about Ian White, he played 500 NHL games and retired from the NHL before his 29th Bday. A good career but nothing to get excited about, though he did put up 4 good seasons with the Leafs and one season with the Wings.

He was a 4th round pick last year....let's reconvene in a couple years to see if he's even on the radar of making the NHL

I. have rarely seen him play. Maybe the Leafs convert to right wing. A few years from now the Leafs have the smallest, but very slick right wings.....Marner, Bracco and Hollowell. Hollwell might turn into another PP guy like Marner. But you are correct,,,,let's wait before we see if NHL ready at all.
Are the Leafs going with a very inexperienced AHL Dman lineup next year of Liljegren, Sandin, Hollowell, Gordeev, Greenway, Lindgren?

Do you know for a fact that he's already struggling to clear the net in the OHL?

It seems like you're conflating height with strength.

Some of the toughest defenders in the NHL are 5'11 - 6'0 .... if he's made of that mold than 2 inches won't keep him out of the NHL.

I doubt it.

They have Rosen + Borgman + Holl signed and RFA rights to Ozhiganov + Subban.

The Leafs only have three open slots left after Rielly + Muzzin + Dermott + Zaitsev (and they could re-sign one of Gardiner + Hainsey + Marincin).

So two or three of the guys in bold will likely be on the Marlies.

I never claimed he was struggling in the OHL.
I said it's much harder to play at the NHL level being 5'8 or however tall he really is, god knows if they gave him an inch. You aren't talking about an inch off 6 foot.
These are just facts. you live in fantasy land if you think it doesn't make a difference. If you think people won't forecheck them through the glass you are kidding yourself.
If you think they are going to toss these 6'3+ players out from the front of the net you are lying to yourself.
Stop living in fantasy land. People out there trying to earn a living, they ain't got time to deal with no midget defense man in their way. They will run them over.

Failure of logic.

A 200lb guy who is 5'8 will out "muscle" a 170lb guy who is 6'2 roughly 99% of the time.

Failure of logic. Leverage,

besdies there aren't many 6'2 hockey players who weigh 170lbs.

Please just stop now, you are embarrassing yourself.

The smaller heavier guy has the advantage in leverage ....

Plus .... more of his of mass is muscle and his weight is more condensed.