Maple Leafs at Risk of Losing Two Players for Nothing Due to NHL Rule Deadline

As the NHL offseason continues on through the late stages of July and into August, we have some business to take care of, mainly arbitration cases as well as expiring draft rights.

There are several prospects who are potentially becoming unrestricted free agents this summer, and unless their respective teams decide to quickly scoop them back up, the prospect pool is going to grow a bit.

Those prospects who haven't signed will have their draft rights expire on August 15th, and according to the salary cap website Puckpedia, two Toronto Maple Leafs end up on the list.

Both John Fusco and Wyatt Schingoethe are set to be free agents come the 15th, and with Toronto focused elsewhere, plus a bevy of mid-season prospect signings, they are more than likely gone.

Fusco, 24, was drafted 179th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2020 and has yet to come to an agreement with the team.

The right-handed defenseman had a solid tenure in the NCAA with both Dartmouth University as well as one season with Harvard.

A good two-way player with a great first pass in transition, he posted 51 points in 112 games (22 goals, 29 assists) over his four year career in college, and posted his best season in 2024-25.

It's surprising that Toronto hasn't come to terms with him, considering they need a right-handed puck-moving blueliner, though his size may end up being a factor (he's only 5'10).

Schingoethe, 22, was drafted 195th overall in 2020 after a decent tenure in collegiate hockey, being a more defensively focused player though he can chip in with some scoring.

In 83 games with Western Michigan University, Schingoethe had 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) but was a plus-12 in that span with only 18 PIM.

There is still time for the Maple Leafs to end up signing either player, though with the current trajectory of the team, and other picks who had much promise not being able to find a spot, it may be elsewhere that Fusco and Schingoethe find their footing.