Why one Maple Leafs prospect is quickly becoming a fan favorite

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Landon Sim is becoming a favorite among Leafs fans as he's emerged as one of the organization's hardest working prospects.

Sim was signed out of the NHL, drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, although he never signed a deal with the Blues, ultimately joining Toronto following his end of his OHL career.

As a member of the London Knights alongside current Leaf Easton Cowan, Sim won two OHL cups and a Memorial Cup with London, with Sim having 12 goals in the playoffs last season. He also showed no love to his former teammate Cowan, fighting him during development camp.

But what makes Landon Sim such an intriguing part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization isn't for his offense, but his ability to be a gritty, aggressive forward, and at 21 years of age already one of the hardest workers playing in the Leafs organization.

Landon Sim is looking as a player who has the tools necessary to excel as a pro and play a clear depth role that supports an offense, but is a question of where.

Sim has split time between the AHL and ECHL with the Toronto Marlies and the Cincinnati Cyclones, limited to just three games in the AHL due to injury, Sim is finding his footing in Cincinnati as he returns to playing time.

For the Cyclones, Sim has already carved out a grinder role with the team and is showcasing the physical edge he's played with it in the OHL.

Fans are already excited at what Sim could be, even if he lacks offense, he could flesh out a role as a physical workhorse at the NHL level.

Although he could be a career minor leaguer, Sim does have call-up potential in a fourth line agitator role that allows him to insert in an NHL lineup needing aggressiveness and grit.

Having been signed as an OHL free agent, Landon Sim has found a way to build a clear play style he'll take on at the pro level, and it has Leafs fans excited.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Craig Berube's praise for a polarizing Maple Leafs forward could quiet the trade rumors