> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Getting to know everyone else - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/getting-to-know-everyone-else/ - Published: 2026-09-25T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-25T11:59:59.000Z - Description: Not every new signing gets a long profile, but we can refresh out memories. - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: Player Profile The Leafs signed and/or traded for a lot of players in a very short time. Some of them are set to play more minor roles, so this is a wrap up of those. I also skipped Emil Andrae since we just had a T25 article on him: [2026 T25U25: Emil Andrae is #6Chayka’s first acquisition, but is it that meaningful?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/PPP-Goalie-Logo_RGB-ea176521-5995-4fee-8c73-413051b88c91.png)PPP LeafsHardev![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1590524761651-fc4070aa033b-0079c4ab-00e0-4bbe-b4e0-efe5a98dea78)](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2026-t25u25-emil-andrae-is-6/) ### Zack MacEwen I was very startled by the signing of Zack MacEwen to a two year contract. He is a Plan B player personified, and at 30, he's been at this long enough to have suffered some injuries. In fact, he missed nearly all of last season after knee surgery. Elite Prospects expects him to play in the AHL, and so do I, at least most of the time. His one-way contract (he's paid his NHL salary even in the minors) is a nod to his veteran status. MacEwen is from PEI, and is as big as he plays at 6'4" and well over 200 lbs. Like a lot of players of his sort, he was an effective forward in junior hockey topping out at 74 points in 66 games back when he was 20\. He had a lot of PIM then too, and he carried that into his early AHL career. He also had a lot of points in his first year pro with Utica after Vancouver signed him to an ELC. Then, something happened. And I think that something is that he leaned in hard to physicality and fighting to get into the NHL. He's played in the 7-10 minute range most seasons, and has played what comes close to a full NHL season only once. He does not take absurd amounts of penalties, not even in the AHL, and he's a hard checking guy not expecting big minutes. On the Marlies, he'd be a duplicate of Marc Johnstone, and maybe on the Marlies – unlike some other teams – he might try some more of his old Plan A game from 10 years back. Kyle Dubas signed some tough guys back in the day who got to do just that. In preseason with the Leafs, he surprised me by being fast and effective in a fourth-liner way. He isn't hunting a body count, but he will fight if you annoy him. I can actually see the Leafs keeping him as the 13th forward if Dakota Joshua is on IR. ### Brandon Brisson We've said all we can about Brisson, signed very late in the summer, and I'll steal some of Brigstew's comments from our [T25 bonus extra](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2026-top-t5-under-25-bonus-content-brendan-brisson/): > From more recent scouting reports, the whole “shooter without much else” line kind of stands up. He’s referred to as a powerplay specialist with good offensive skill, vision, and a really good shot. But he struggles with the higher pace of the NHL, doesn’t have much of an impact at 5v5 even offensively, he’s an average sized player who doesn’t play very physical, and in fact he doesn’t play any kind of style that would endear him to coaches for someone who doesn’t produce. The expectation should be that Brisson plays in the AHL, but his NHL experience may get him so road-trip recall time on the NHL roster. ### Henrik Rybinski At 25, Rybinski wasn't in the T25, and he was signed to a two-way NHL deal, with the expectation he will be on the Marlies. He is an experienced AHL forward with four years of play for Hershey. ### Hayes Hundley At 21, Hundley is the youngest of three new defenders signed to NHL deals for play on the Marlies. He's had one season in the NCAA after one season in the USHL. A very unusual sort of free agent acquisition. ### Vinny Borgesi Also young, at 22, Borgesi has just played four years in the NCAA and has gotten some Team USA attention in the past. He was very good in the rookie tournament but has to really soar to overcome height limitations as a defender. ### Cole McWard McWard actually has some NHL experience with Vancouver and the Islanders. He's had a lot of AHL experience after a pair of NCAA seasons. ### Samuel Hlavaj Signed to be the number two goalie behind Artur Akhtyamov in the AHL, Hlavaj is a few months older at 25, and has experience in the AHL, ECHL and the Olympics.