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Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Pick Takes Big Step With New Contract Signing

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Austin Kelly
January 14, 2025  (1:19)
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A recent Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has made a major move to a new team to further his pro career.

One former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick and prospect is officially on his way to join a new team for next season, a move made official that will provide a new opportunity potentially in the long-term thanks to the CHL-NCAA agreement.

With the recent ruling allowing Canadian Hockey League players to join NCAA Hockey, this has led to multiple CHL talents announcing their commitments to College, something that in the past meant forgoing the CHL for either the USHL or Canadian 'Junior A' Hockey, or a path from the CHL to the CCAA.

One player is now using the new rules that allow for a jump from Canadian Junior Hockey to College as a stepping stone into a chance at a few years more in top level amateur hockey, leading to a potential pro future.

Leafs Draft Pick Takes His Talents To College Hockey

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Forward Brandon Lisowsky has officially announced his commitment to the NCAA with the Colorado College Tigers for the 2025-26 season.

Lisowsky, currently with the Victoria Royals of the WHL was a seventh round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, 218th overall.

Despite being a prominent offensive weapon with 80 goals and 151 points in 133 WHL games since being drafted by the Leafs, Lisowsky was not offered an entry-level contract by Toronto, leaving him unattached to a NHL team.

The Leafs had continued to pay attention to Lisowsky's performances this season for a possible minors deal, and so far he has shown he is still a strong talent scoring wise with 27 goals and 50 points in 34 games this season in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades and Victoria Royals.

Lisowsky chooses to take a chance on the NCAA, specifically Colorado College, one of many top WHL talents who have opted for the college route.

Other names include Oliver Tulk to Wisconsin, Tyson Jagnauth to Michigan State, and Lisowsky's former Saskatoon teammates Ben Riche & Ben Saunderson to Quinnipiac.

Colorado College has also recently secured the commitment of defenseman Will McLaughlin, one of the top youngsters in the AJHL and a recent signing of the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL, another move helped by the CHL-NCAA transfer agreement.

Lisowsky's size, measured at 5'9 and 180lbs, holds him back from the promise of an NHL career due to the risks of his ability to handle the physicality of the pros.

But the toughness and maturity of college hockey has the potential to prove to scouts the possibility Lisowsky has of being a top talent against bigger and stronger opponents next season.

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Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Pick Takes Big Step With New Contract Signing

Will Brandon Lisowsky be signed by another NHL team in the future?

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