Jacob Quillan has signed a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Centre depth is thin so adding another guy wouldn't hurt

GREAT signing.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Fantastic pickup for the Leafs, one of the bigger fish NCAA free agents and one of my personal favourite targets. Fills a valuable position as a center and looked excellent this past season. May be a sore spot for Knies though, Quillan was the one who scored the goal that defeated Knies and his Golden Gophers in the NCAA finals last season

Excellent pickup, kind of shocked he chose the Leafs but I am not complaining in the slightest

"I got my eye on you, J Quillan!"

****ing Cooley just had to lose his temper but whateves past is past

But hey we seem to like the enemy of my enemy is my friend

Reaves and Domi

Lybushkin and McMann

Been reading about him seems interesting. Lets hope he pans out as he could be an interesting 3c option

Would have been better if they got him for 3 years; is that possible for college free agent his age? I think he'll use up 1.5 years of that contract adjusting to pro hockey in the AHL; which is perfectly normal and should be expected for even the better NCAA free agents.

He's still an RFA at the end of the year... So I don't think 2-3 years matter as much...

Supposedly good prospect, makes the Leafs prospect pool stronger, only an ELC, I like this deal

Yah dun messed up A-a-ron!!!

You want to go to war Balakey?!

This signing is D-Nice!

this is a solid pick up, question is where does he play. They can't just rifle this kid down to the AHL. He's 22, it's the play me or release me time so TOR has to find space for him sooner rather than later.
I'm kind of surprised he chose TOR but then again the prospect pool isn't great so he probably thinks easier path.

He'll be a Marlies legend in 10 years time.

Sure they can what makes him so good that he can immediately take a spot in the NHL

Like most guys like him its go to the NHL learn and see how their game translates to the next level

He's an RFA after his deal so sure he can complain but does Brad have to give in no. Its up to him to earn a spot

If kid comes in with an entitled mindset reality gonna catch up quick with him

I don't think you really get it.
This isn't a 20 year old coming for the CHL. He'll be 23 next year.
You aren't going to develop a player that age for 2 years in the AHL or what have you.
It's more likely they bust on, or flame out.
Look at Donato. He signed at 21, got thrown in that year and was given like 1/2 a year the next year before BOS moved on.
Another example would be Kerfoot signed at 23 played that year for COL.
Or Aston Reese, signed 23 1/2 year in the AHL and up to the NHL.
This is the typical track.

This is just how things go for UFA NCCA guys. They want their playing time and that plays a part in where they will sign.
On top of it, teams are less interested in investing to develop guys who are already going to be 23 that they didn't draft.
They got limited space and are more willing to give it to 20 year olds who they did draft.
Because at 23 the expectation is a player should have jumped by now. They simply don't have 2 years or leeway.
So as much as you think they can send the kid down to the AHL and let him develop that's probably not how this is going to work for either of them.

At 23 you either do or do not have the skill set. Sitting in the AHL for another year isn't going to change that. By 23 you should have already worked on your skating and your strengthening.
The two things that hold younger players back.
It's not about entitled mindset, it's about reality of the kids ability.

They are either going to play him, or they are not. If they don't it's best for both to move on. Because they probably aren't going to if they didn't.

Again that means jack all

These guys have 0 leverage

Like every other player they have to earn it

Going from NCAA to AHL at 22 vs. CHL, OHL, etc at 20 means nothing

Everyone has to earn a spot no matter the age or draft rank (except if your 1OA pick) thats how it works

As said before If kid comes in with an entitled mindset reality gonna catch up quick with him

We have seen it time and time again with some of these guys. You want it got to earn it

this is where you are wrong.
A. the player does have leverage. They get to choose where they sign and they take their best path to the NHL level. Which is why players sign where they will get playing time.
B. you fail to understand. Teams aren't making long term investments into the development of guys who are already 23. I have given you 3 recent examples of player who made the jump. It's a typical story. Name one player came into the AHL from the NCAA in year 23 and developed 1-2 years before making the jump?

It's not just about the player. It's the team as well. There are huge differences coming in from CHL as opposed to NCAA. There are expectations both the player and the team have.
You seem to want to put it on the player. That's just arrogant on your part.
If you put 4 draft picks every year on your AHL team, you got 16 guys, you add in the few mandatory vets to help them grow and become a pro, and your AHL team is filled out.
They aren't planning to develop NCAA guys for more than a year. Most likely they are making the jump 1st year or they aren't.

Seem to not understand this guy had 0 leverage

2 years ago Mikheyev asked for a trade did the GM do it no why 0 leverage

Just because they ask does the GM or coach have to give it no lul

Robertson has reportedly asked for trades is he still here yes. They dont got to meet these guys demands it aint the NBA nor do they have command like higher names like Matthews, McDavid, etc.


TOR dont have to worry about long development as there core is pretty much set. Look at McMann and how many years it took him to develop into finally a bonified NHLer

He's 27 now and started with the ECHL Growlers. Did he complain no he worked hard and then in the end earned his spot

Again this guys got 0 leverage he can complain and whine but does Brad have to do anything no. He's an RFA at the end of his deal and is under team control

you don't seem to understand the 2 guys you named were drafted. they were not UFAs.
NCAA UFA have leverage. They don't have to sign with the leafs. They get to choose where they go. That's called leverage. He also didn't come out of a small program that isn't know for developing NHL level talent, and couldn't even muster ppg at the NCAA level. Quillan came out of Quinnipiac averaging over a ppg. He had leverage in his signing.

McMann is the exception. There are not many McManns in the NHL. He might be the only one. For ever McMann there is 10 Judd Caulfield, did not sign with PIT, became a UFA signed with ANA at 22 and looks to have flamed out. There is example after example of how the tract tends to go for NCAA UFA, i named 3 recent ones above. There are plenty more that fit that trend, Sam Malinski for one.
Then there are the rest of the Nick Leivermann of the NCAA free agents. Because teams really aren't putting the work to develop them. There are just too many young players to.

So while you can pick a guy like McMann who didn't have leverage and worked his way up, that isn't Quillan.
The fact McMann was all the way down to the ECHL level should tell you something. Good for him for not giving up, but the majority of guys coming out the NCAA either hit the NHL level running or flame out unless they are signing at 20-21 years old. Guys coming in at 23 just don't get that kind of runway.

"Name one player who came into the AHL from the NCAA in year 23 and developed 1-2 years before making the jump?" - LuckyMoneyPuck

Look no further than Bobby McMann.

A UFA who came into the AHL from the NCAA at 24 and developed for 2 years before making the jump.

Now he's got a new contract and a nice career on the Leafs.

Aadoyle is 100% correct.

that is the only player you can name?
I've already commented on that read.
The list of this working the other way is a mile long. Here is another one for you, Will Butcher.
I mean literally 99% of player coming from the NCAA as a UFA that has made the jump they are at the NHL in year 1.
The rest flame out. so looks like you are both wrong eh? Because you seem to think Quillan had no leverage if you agree with him and that's just completely and totally wrong.

You already lost the argument my man.

You asked for him to name one.

Now you want a list? LMAO!

Nobodies got time for that!

Time to pack it up.

exactly you can't
while i rattled off a whole list to you.