Maple Leafs sign Hayes Hundley to an ELC

Maple Leafs Sign Hayes Hundley To A Three-year, Entry-level Contract | Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed defenceman Hayes Hundley to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season. He will join the Toronto Marlies (AHL) for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on an amateur tryout. Hundley, 21, posted 12 points (six goals,

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He's young enough for a three-year ELC, and has only played on NCAA season.

Hundley, 21, posted 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 38 games with St. Thomas University (NCAA) during the 2025-26 season. The Upper Arlington, OH native was named to the 2025-26 CCHA All-Rookie Team. The 6’3, 210-pound, right-handed defenceman previously posted 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) and 74 penalty minutes in 58 regular season games with the Fargo Force (USHL) during the 2024-25 season and also appeared in two playoff games.

Elite Prospect's scouting guide from his USHL year had this to say:

Fargo's best player in this game, Hundley brought a lot of exciting elements. First, the physicality. He was constantly looking for contact, whether he was lining up opponents for big hits, setting picks, or engaging early going to the wall to secure inside position. As per tradition in Fargo, he's a very active player with the puck, too. Joins every possible rush. Grabbed a goal by activating, then hitting a bank pass under pressure, supporting the rush, and firing off the catch. Constantly looking for high-value plays from the point. He slips pucks inside, circles around the zone, uses a lot of lateral footwork to prod for openings, and tries to deceive opponents with fakes and stop-starts. He's not a particularly explosive player and he forces some passes that had no chance – opponents were able to mitigate the damage he could cause at times. Whiffed on passes and had some difficulty handling under pressure, but he was also manipulating opponents and pulling off some impressive high-speed moves to weave through traffic. He reminds me a lot of Leo Gruba. He plays a very active, aggressive style with some advanced ideas, but the skill and details will have to take a step to become an NHL prospect. But he should become a top NCAA defenceman in a few years regardless.

Certainly a very interesting and unusual player path to the NHL, but an interesting type of defenceman based on this scouting report. Believers in the skill/grit dichotomy will hate this signing, but he only just turned 21 a few days ago, so he actually has time to develop. He needs to work fast though.