Why The Maple Leafs Signed NCAA Free Agent Defenseman John Prokop To A One-Year Future Contract
Prokop will begin his tenure in the Maple Leafs organization on an ATO with the Marlies for the remainder of this season.
Mary Gettens/Athletic Communications Assistant, Union CollegeThe Toronto Maple Leafs have added another defenseman to their prospect pool.
Toronto announced Thursday morning that they've signed NCAA free agent defender John Prokop to a one-year contract, beginning next season. The 23-year-old scored eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 36 games with Union College this season.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound left-shot defenseman has tallied 85 points — 20 goals and 65 assists — in 107 NCAA games with Union College over three seasons. He was named to the NCAA's ECAC first all-star team and the NCAA (East) second all-American team in 2024.
According to PuckPedia, Prokop signed a two-way deal to make $875,000 at the NHL level and $85,000 at the AHL level. He will join the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season.
He joins a long list of prospect (or depth) defensemen in the Maple Leafs organization, which currently includes Matt Benning, Marshall Rifai, Cade Webber, Noah Chadwick, and the three of Topi Niemela, Mikko Kokkonen, and William Villeneuve, who are restricted free agents.
There were reports that Niemela was looking to return to Europe after this season. However, according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke, the defenseman's agent denied the report, saying, "There is no truth to this. Topi is 100% committed to playing in North America.
The Maple Leafs have 12 defensemen under NHL contracts entering next season.
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