Maple Leafs blueline looking like Toronto's skyline as Blake Smith signs
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The Maple Leafs defence, already at historically high proportions, will get even taller starting next season.
The club announced Wednesday it has signed 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior over-ager Blake Smith to a three-year entry level contract starting next season.
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Maple Leafs blueline looking like Toronto's skyline as Blake Smith signs Back to video
Smith has spent the past year with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, where he had 10 goals and 22 assists in 64 games. He also recorded a career-high 54 penalty minutes.
The Oshawa native broke in with the hometown Generals in 2021-22 and went to Flint the following year. He played 244 career OHL games with 54 points. He had an assist in five playoff games this past season. Smith was invited to the Boston Bruins development camp in 2023.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defence already has Brandon Carlo and Philippe Myers (both 6-foot-5), Simon Benoit (6-foot-4), Chris Tanev (6-foot-3), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (6-foot-2), Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe (both 6-foot-1). When healthy, Jani Hakanpaa brings a 6-foot-7 presence.
On the farm, recent prospects include Cade Webber (6-foot-7), John Prokop (6-foot-3) and Marshall Rifai (6-foot-2). Last year’s first-round pick, Generals’ Ben Danford, is 6-foot-2.
This is not to mention that the Leafs goalie tandem of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll aren’t shrimps, either. Stolarz stands 6-foot-6 and Woll measures in at 6-foot-3.
X: @sunhornby
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