Nick Blankenburg finds himself on a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so let's break down why they brought him in and what he can do to stick around.
As the Maple Leafs look to head into training camp with big aspirations and a lot of expectations, they need to make sure they have enough depth. Their forward group is pretty well set, but the defensive group needs a bit more insurance besides just Philippe Myers, which led to Toronto's latest offseason move.
The team announced they had added blueliner Nick Blankenburg on a PTO contract, giving them chance to see what the offensive defenceman can offer the Maple Leafs during camp.
HockeyPatrol actually previously touched on Blankenburg as a fit for the team, and it seems Toronto had the same idea - so let's take a look at who exactly is coming in.
Who is Nick Blankenburg?
Position: Defenceman (RHD)
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 177 Pounds
2025-26 Season: 61 GP, 24 points, 59 blocks, minus-10, 16:48 TOI
An undrafted free agent signed by the Blue Jackets out of Michigan, Blankenburg spent four years in the NCAA where he amassed 68 points in 133 games, while also captaining the Wolverines in his final season.
His NHL debut season went pretty great as well, and though he only appeared in seven games - he did have three points. His best singular NHL season was in 2024-25 where he added 16 points in 60 games, with only a minus-two in a career-high 19:33 TOI. Nashville clearly liked what they saw, and gave him as much room to run as possible.
He's a much more physical guy than his size would dictate, and while he won't blow you away offensively, he does offer much more upside in that aspect than Troy Stecher and Myers, and could fight with Emil Andrae as part of that third-pairing. Also being a right-handed shot, that gives head coach Jim Hiller another versatile option to plug in.
What Nick Blankenburg needs to do to earn a spot with the Maple Leafs
Honestly, he doesn't need to do much except do what he did the last two seasons. He has better stats and underlying numbers than Myers, and with Stecher being 32, Blankenburg offers a younger player with higher upside.
Also with questions about Chris Tanev's status with the team this season, Blankenburg would give the Maple Leafs the perfect replacement in the interim. Oliver Ekman-Larsson can slide to the second pair with Jake McCabe, and he and Andrae can be the dual two-way forces on the third pair.
Blankenburg has to come into camp and outplay not only Myers and Stecher, but also make sure that he doesn't get overshadowed by a prospect like Ben Danford or Vinny Borgesi - of who Blankenburg is similar to is size and style.
It isn't an easy path to the Maple Leafs, but clearly they see enough of something in Blankenburg to invite him to camp. It's just up to him to take that opportunity and turn it into an NHL contract.
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