Maleek McGowan is the specific brand of nasty the Maple Leafs' blue line is missing
Photo credit: JAN MURPHY /jpg, KI, apsmc
Maleek McGowan is a 20-year-old Toronto native, and is about to become an undrafted free agent. For a team looking to change the culture, the physical McGowan could be the answer.
One name who is attracting interest from the Ontario Hockey League as an undrafted free agent is defenseman Maleek McGowan.
The 20-year-old McGowan has 14 goals, 22 assists, & 36 points in 60 games for the Kingston Frontenacs, having played on the team with Leafs 2025 third rounder Tyler Hopkins, who was dealt to Guelph midway into the season.
A recent poll of OHL coaches named McGowan as the league's third best shot blocker, and third best bodychecker in the league's Western Conference.
McGowan, who may sign with a pro team after this season, has generated interest from NHL teams, and has some Leafs fans interested in the defenseman and Toronto native.
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Maleek McGowan has been named by coaches as one of the OHL's top physical presences, and this season having raised his stock has a potential future pro.
McGowan, at 6'0, manages to play a much harder game than his height, while also being an offensive leader on the Frontenacs blueline.
Not having made an NCAA commitment for next season, a team signing McGowan could put him into the minors right away if trusting in his physicality being impactful right away.
For a team like Toronto, he could be another young addition to their minor league depth after signing NCAA defenseman Vincent Borgesi on Tuesday to an NHL contract.
Locking down a top-tier bodychecker for free is a move the Leafs scouting staff can't ignore
Like Borgesi, Maleek McGowan could be an AHLer starting next season, but could even get ECHL reps to get them accumulated to bigger minutes and the physical transition to pro hockey.
McGowan, if he ever gets to the NHL, would likely need a few years to flesh out his game to become an NHLer, especially a regular. A debut could potentially come at the end of the decade.
It's likely that McGowan will gain an NHL contract, or an AHL deal, that a team will trust in his high aggressiveness being translatable to the pro ranks.
McGowan isn't unfamiliar with being involved in NHL play, having been at development camps with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.
A potential physical defender with offensive tools, Maleek McGowan could be the type of defenseman that blossoms as a professional and Toronto would be a team that suits the hometown talent.
With an emphasis on the future, why not bring in the hometown kid and see what he can do?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Leafs fans aren't buying Morgan Rielly's forced physical pushback after failing Auston Matthews
Leafs fans aren't buying Morgan Rielly's forced physical pushback after failing Auston Matthews
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
MARS 18|669 ANSWERS Maleek McGowan is the specific brand of nasty the Maple Leafs' blue line is missing Should the Leafs sign OHL FA Maleek McGowan? | ||
| Yes | 547 | 81.8 % |
| No | 122 | 18.2 % |
| List of polls | ||