Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly interested in defenceman Joseph Duszak
By James Reeve
Reports have begun to emerge that suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in signing/have signed college defenceman Joseph Duszak.
The Toronto Maple Leafs never shy away from adding more talent to their system especially on their blue line with Mercyhurst defenceman Joseph Duszak reportedly on their radar.
Duszak is a college free agent that has spent the past three seasons with the Mercyhurst Lakers program, progressing well across each season.
Now, it appears that Duszak could be interested in foregoing his final year in college to make the jump into professional hockey.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman posted on Twitter that the Maple Leafs are looking at the right-handed New York native. Duszak, put up 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 37 games in the NCAA last season – good for third highest of any player in the league.
In 101 regular season games in the NCAA, Duszak registered an impressive 99 points – including 30 goals.
His progression from the USHL Premier, where he had 134 points (33 goals, 101 assists) in 126 games, up to college hockey has certainly attracted the attention of clubs in the NHL, with the Leafs in particular on the lookout for new defensive talent.
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Both the Leafs and their AHL affiliates, the Toronto Marlies, are struggling through difficult injuries to some of their top blueliners, with the likes of Jake Gardiner, Travis Dermott, Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman all currently sidelined.
If Duszak opts to join the Leafs, the team will have another young defensive prospect to work with – hopefully finding a guy that can be the right-sided shot that helps them take the next step as they enter a particularly tight cap situation in 2019-20.
College Hockey News reports that a deal is done, but this has not yet been announced by the Leafs – who could make the announcement later this week if everything that has been reported is correct.
Adding another young guy that can be developed in the team’s system is a smart move by Kyle Dubas and looking at prospects coming out of college is another avenue that is becoming a fruitful location for teams, with the development of Trevor Moore helping to reinforce this.
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What do you think Leafs Nation? If the team announce Duszak’s signing, will you be pleased? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!