Luke Grainger has decided to leave North America for a chance to play with Sport in Finland's SM-Liiga as Toronto's depth chart has pushed him out of the system.
Luke Grainger has decided to leave the Maple Leafs for a chance to play in Finland, and you can hardly blame him. Considering that Toronto's depth is quietly becoming one of its biggest strengths, Grainger is being pushed out and is looking for more lineup time with SM-Liiga's Sport.
Grainger, 26, hails from Montreal and spent the last season with Toronto's ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones. He registered 29 points in 63 games (19 goals, 10 assists) and also has some experience in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda.
Grainger spent the season in the ECHL and has no spot in the AHL lineup so he's heading overseas
But with him really not finding a spot in the AHL lineup given that he wasn't recalled for the playoffs nor does he have a defined spot with Toronto's current group, it seems like he's making the move overseas:
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Grainger signed a 1+1 deal with Sport of Finland's Liiga, a deal which sees him play in 2026-27 with an option for 2027-28.
Sport head coach Lauri Mikkola is excited to have Grainger on their roster, one that also includes French Olympian Charles Bertrand. Mikkola praised Grainger's ability as a centre and how he can help the team going forward:
Luke is a player with a university background who has done very well in the university league and then played a couple of seasons in the ECHL. He has a very good and fast shot. He moves well and is a playmaking center who can also play on the wing. A guy with great potential.
A move to Finland gives Grainger the playing time he needs without hurting the Maple Leafs
It's not like Grainger was a top prospect or someone who was factored into the team's future plans, so him heading overseas to continue his career is a very smart decision.
Finland is a country that has a diehard hockey fanbase and the Liiga is one of the best pro hockey leagues in the entire world. Grainger can follow in the footsteps of former Maple Leafs like Josh Leivo and find a permanent home overseas and forge a new career for himself.
There's just no room on the roster for him either in the AHL or NHL. The Marlies have a lot of young players and solid veterans who are shaping their Calder Cup run, so moving them out is a no-go and he's nowhere near an NHL-level player.
It's the nature of the business, as Grainger is being pushed out by other prospects and veterans with only limited places to go. So the next stop is Finland, and if he can raise his stock enough - may be able to come back to North American eventually.
Do you think Toronto has enough depth or is there still a need to add?
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