The Maple Leafs didn't extend a qualifying offer to Petruzzelli at the end of last season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Former Maple Leafs-signed goaltender Keith Petruzzelli was seen dropping the gloves in an ECHL game on Friday.
The 25-year-old goaltender, currently with the ECHL's Reading Royals, fought Adirondack Thunder netminder David Fessenden on Friday at the end of the first period after a massive scrum involving both team's players ensued.
After spending four years at Quinnipiac University, Petruzzelli joined the Toronto Marlies on a two-year AHL deal on Aug 29, 2021. He spent most of his first pro season with the Newfoundland Growlers, registering 16 wins and a .927 save percentage through 23 games.
In his second year with the Marlies, Petruzzelli played six games in the AHL before signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs. The main reason for the signing was that Toronto needed a goaltender after Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov went down with injuries.
Petruzzelli served as Erik Kallgren's backup and didn't get into an NHL game before returning to the Marlies a few days later. He finished the year with a .909 save percentage through 25 AHL games.
During the 2023-24 season, Petruzzelli only played 17 games with the Marlies, registering six wins and an .867 save percentage. Toronto didn't tender him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent after the season ended, allowing him to test free agency.
The goaltender signed a one-year AHL contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this past summer. He hasn't played an AHL game this season. Petruzzelli has four wins and an .899 save percentage through 15 ECHL games.
Originally selected by the Detroit Red Wings during the third round (88th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, the goaltender never received an entry-level contract from the club.
That allowed him to test free agency and ultimately sign with the Marlies ahead of the 2021-22 season. Petruzzelli has yet to play an NHL game throughout his four-year professional career.