Breaking News: Maple Leafs sign Dryden McKay

Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced they signed this year’s Hobey Baker winner (given to the top NCAA men’s hockey player) goaltender Dryden McKay to a 2-year AHL contract. McKay went undrafted in the NHL Draft, was a college free agent who played the last four seasons at Minnesota State University (Mankato), and has chosen the Toronto Maple Leafs. There was some news circling McKay as of late, as he accepted a 6-month suspension for an anti-doping violation, which will leave him eligible to return for training camp with the Maple Leafs. 

The 24-year-old McKay is a smaller goalie at just 5 foot 11 and 183 pounds who can take the appropriate time in the system to develop and become an NHL-caliber goaltender. He could potentially start next season in the ECHL and work his way up the ranks to the AHL and get a shot at the NHL, but let’s not put too much pressure on the kid. I see this as a good depth signing with positive upside for the Maple Leafs, and they gave McKay a contract that is ‘low risk, high reward.’ As a Hobey Baker award winner, he has the work ethic and the smarts, but will that translate to a higher level? There is a real possibility that it could be if he is given time and could see the backup for the Maple Leafs a few years down the road, or even the starter in the Marlies and sees NHL action as the call-up option.  

McKay joins the likes of Joseph Woll, Erik Källgren, and Ian Scott as some options for the Marlies next season. Källgren has seen time as the backup in the NHL for the Maple Leafs, and Woll recently signed an extension that is a 2-way deal after the 2022-23 season, which leads me to believe McKay could see AHL level action sooner than some think. Unfortunately, Ian Scott’s young career has been riddled with injuries, and he hasn’t been able to stay healthy the last few seasons, which is another reason why I think this signing holds some weight. The final reason I think this signing was one that the Leafs wanted to get this done was that they lost out on Mack Gudza on the Barrie Colts to the Florida Panthers earlier this season. They liked what he brought to the organization as a goalie with ‘fringe’ potential, and that, to me, is what Dryden McKay now provides the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. 


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Adam Proteau

Catching up With Adam Proteau of The Hockey News

With the trade deadline behind us and teams pushing toward the Stanley Cup playoffs, I figured now was as good a time as ever to conduct an email interview with the great Adam Proteau of The Hockey News. Adam was kind enough to take time out of his busy writing schedule to give us his […]

Read More
Todd McLellan behind the bench

March Contiues to Be a Month That Sinks the Detroit Red Wings Playoff Hopes

March has been the part of the NHL schedule that has caused the Detroit Red Wings the most trouble in the past three seasons. In two of these three seasons, the Red Wings were led by former head coach Derek Lalonde. The Red Wings had a record of 3-11 in March of 2024 under Lalonde. […]

Read More
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes celebrates a first-period goal against the Minnesota Wild.

New Jersey Devils Take Down Wild in a Shootout to Sweep the Season Series

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout on Monday night at the Prudential Center, sweeping the home-and-home season series between the two. Looking to end a three-game winless streak at home, the Devils put together another 60-plus minute effort that earned them a resilient and well-deserved win over a team […]

Read More