Fearless Maple Leafs Prospect Already Showing Signs of Becoming a Future Fan-Favorite
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Even though we've only had a glimpse of what Landon Sim can bring to the table, there's already a good sign that he will have fans excited to watch him play.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Landon Sim to a one-year AHL deal in May, there wasn't a ton of fanfare around it given that he was not the main focus of the London Knights when it comes to the team, that being top prospect Easton Cowan.
The Traits That Stand Out in His Game So Far
But there's a lot to like about Sim. He's scrappy, tenacious, loves to agitate and frustrate opponents and isn't afraid to drop the gloves either plus he's got some offensive chops to boot.
Appearing in the Maple Leafs Prospect Showcase on Saturday, the first of two games, Sim was all over the place on the ice creating havoc and trying to goad the Senators prospects into a bad call.
It caught the attention of fans and analysts too, as one Maple Leafs analyst on social media had high praise for Sim:
Also, not very hard to imagine Landon Sim becoming a fan-favorite fourth liner in a few years. Just a fearless pest out there and can still play the game well.
Fearless is an understatement as the 5'11 Sim didnt hesitate to fight 6'2 Matthew Andonovski and ended up the victor albeit when the Senators rookie tumbled. But the fact remains he didn't care who it was, and after every whistle was front and center of a scrum.
The relentless nature of his game and tendency to frustrate opponents make him almost like a minor league Brad Marchand; a huge boost to his potential future with the team.
How He Could Earn a Spot in Toronto Sooner Than Expected
Well through hard work and sheer determination, but there also has to be a bit of luck thrown in there too. While you never want to see injuries happen, this Leafs lineup is prone to them, so Sim putting in a strong preseason could earn him a call-up.
It's also likely we see him during the preseason as one of the last cuts to the roster as Berube tries to maximize his potential while he has him available.
Speaking of Berube, perhaps he had a hand in bringing in Sim in the first place. The forward was drafted by the St. Louis Blues when Berube was coach, and his father Jon Sim has deep connections to both Berube and the Hunter family in the OHL; another strong Maple Leafs connection.
While it isn't explicitly nepotism, the fact that he has history with Berube and already a strong familial connection to the team might earn him a few more brownie points; couple that with a strong start and it won't be surprising to see him called up.
Sim had a fantastic junior career even if he wasn't as flashy or offensively powerful as Cowan. In 213 games for the Knights he posted 124 points (66 goals, 58 assists) while being a plus-49 and having a whopping 290 PIM.
If he can reach the offensive levels he did in London, and work on his discipline a little bit, it won't be long until Sim finds his way into the lineup, and into the hearts of Leafs fans everywhere.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 14 | 756 ANSWERS Fearless Maple Leafs Prospect Already Showing Signs of Becoming a Future Fan-Favorite Do you think Landon Sim will play for the Maple Leafs in 2025-26? | ||
| Yes | 174 | 23 % |
| No | 582 | 77 % |
| List of polls | ||
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