Toronto Maple Leafs Sign 6-foot-5 Ontario-born Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the signing of free agent defenseman Blake Smith.

Smith has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Toronto, the team officially announced.

Smith, 20, is a massive 6'5 left-handed defenseman with a large frame at 225lbs.

This season, Smith had career-highs with 10 goals, 22 assists, & 32 points in 64 games played in the OHL with the Flint Firebirds, playing on the team alongside Leafs 2024 seventh rounder Sam McCue.

A native of Oshawa, ON, Smith was drafted by his hometown Generals in the seventh round of the OHL Priority Selection.

Smith was traded from Oshawa to Flint in 2022 for defenseman Luca D'Amato along with a pick swap.

Despite being ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 155th for North American skaters, Smith went undrafted.

This year was a major offensive boost for Smith who had in previous years been buried in the Firebirds roster, now playing on Flint's first defensive pairing alongside Los Angeles Kings 2023 5th rounder Matthew Mania.

Smith fits the type of the big-bodied defender GM Brad Treliving highly covets. All current Leafs defenseman are over 6'0, and have prioritized size both at defense and forward.

In the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, all players drafted were over 6'0, leading with 6'2 defenseman Ben Danford at 31st overall.

The Toronto Mappe Leafs only have two defensemen under 6'0 in Michael Koster & John Fusco, both drafted under Kyle Dubas and remain unsigned by Toronto.

For prospects, Toronto has also leaned more on size vs skill, and Smith is another example of prioritizing physicality in the Leafs depth chart.