The Toronto Maple Leafs have added a forward to their prospect pool.
Toronto has signed 20-year-old prospect Borya Valis to a three-year, entry-level contract, beginning in the 2025-26 season.
"I want to thank my family, billet families, coaches, Gold Star Hockey, my teammates, and friends for all of their support and their help throughout my life," Valis said via the CHL. "This is a dream come true."
The right-shot forward is in his overage season with the WHL's Prince George Cougars and has 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points in 57 games. The 6-foot-2 winger has scored 86 goals and 130 assists in 236 regular season games with Prince George and the Regina Pats.
Valis had nine goals and four assists for 13 points in 15 playoff games with the Cougars last spring.
"The staff has had a lot of interest in him for a while. Today's the first day we could sign those players for future contracts," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Saturday.
"He's got a two-way game. He's got offensive instincts. He's got good size, skates well. He's one of those guys, a late-developing player. But our guys were really excited to get something done with him. They've been tracking him all year.
"When we're short in the draft pick pool, we've got to be, and we'll continue to be aggressive... We were happy to add him today."
The Maple Leafs have five picks in the upcoming draft, aside from their first and fourth rounders. This signing fits what Toronto lacks in the organizational pipeline: A big right-shot forward who's strong and skates well.
Once his season ends with Prince George, Valis will likely sign a professional tryout with the AHL's Toronto Marlies to jump start the development process.
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