Maple Leafs Sign 3rd Top NCAA Free Agent In Ten Days

The Toronto Maple Leafs have once again dipped into the NCAA free agent pool to nab another prospect, as they continue to try to re-stock their barren asset shelves.

🖊️ We’ve signed defenceman Hayes Hundley to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season

He will join the @TorontoMarlies for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on an amateur tryout

Details » https://t.co/psrGqUSvoQ pic.twitter.com/xuUXoRhd2B
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 27, 2026

Hayes Hundley, a 6'3", 210-pound defenseman, spent only one year at the college ranks with the University of St. Thomas. He gets a three-year entry-level deal with the Leafs. He'll start his professional journey on an amateur tryout with Toronto's AHL affiliate, the Marlies, for the rest of the season.

Daily Faceoff's prospect analyst Steven Ellis says of Hundley, "Aggressive blueliner... Doesn't produce much, but he's physical and reads plays well. Only spent one year in college, but a bunch of teams showed interest."

The 20-year-old posted 12 points on six goals and six assists in 38 games for St. Thomas with a plus/minus rating of +10.

He's the third NCAA prospect signed by Toronto, who do not own a first- or second-round pick in this June's NHL Draft (unless the LA Kings make the playoffs, in which case the third-round pick they sent to the Leafs in exchange for Scott Laughton becomes a second-rounder). Nabbing college free agents is one way to get around their lack of NHL Draft picks, to add some potential talent into the organization.

The Buds also signed forward Brandon Buhr out of Union College, along with Hobey Baker nominee, d-man Vincent Borgesi.