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Maple Leafs sign Prince George forward Borya Valis to entry-level pact

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The Maple Leafs added to their prospect pool on Saturday.

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The Leafs announced the signing of forward Borya Valis to a three-year entry-level contract to begin at the start of the 2025-26 season.

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The 20-year-old, right-shooting Valis has 73 points (29 goals and 44 assists) in 57 games this season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League this season.

“The staff has had a lot of interest in him for a while,” Leafs general manager Brad Treliving told media in Pittsburgh on Saturday. “He has a really good two-way game, he has offensive instincts, he has good size, skates well. Late-developing player.

“Our guys were excited to get something done with him. They have been tracking him all year. When we’re short in the draft-pick pool, we will continue to be aggressive, whether it be junior or college free agency to add to the pipeline. We were happy to add him today.”

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In 236 regular-season games in his WHL career with Prince George and Regina, Valis has 216 points (86 goals and 130 assists). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Denver has 13 points in 15 career WHL playoff games.

The signing of the undrafted Valis came six days before the National Hockey League trade deadline.

If Treliving makes good on his wish to acquire a centre, the likelihood is that he will have to part with one of Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan or Ben Danford. If one of those prospects is not used in a trade, Treliving might have to give up the Leafs’ first-round pick in 2026 as they don’t have one this year.

The Leafs practised on Saturday afternoon after recording a 3-2 win in New York against the Rangers on Friday night.

The Leafs will take a four-game winning streak into their game on Sunday afternoon against the Penguins before returning home to play host to the San Jose Sharks on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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