The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a captaincy change. The Hockey News breaks down why Auston Matthews will become the 26th captain in franchise history. Noah Chadwick signed his entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 22 and hasn't looked back since. From Aug. 12 to Aug. 23, I will highlight the top 10 prospects within the Maple Leafs organization. The rankings will be based on: * undefined * undefined * undefined NOAH CHADWICK (LETHBRIDGE, WHL) 19, D, 6-FOOT-4, 201 LBS Toronto selected Chadwick late in the 2023 NHL Draft as a sixth-round (185th overall) pick. More often than not, those picks either don't pan out, or, take some time to see tangible progress in the junior leagues. However, that's not the case for the 19-year-old defenseman. In his draft season, Chadwick only had five goals and 15 assists in 67 games with Lethbridge in the WHL. The following year, after Toronto had drafted him, the defenseman scored 12 goals and 44 assists for 56 points in 66 games. He had the 10th-most points among WHL defensemen and the fifth-most of any player on Lethbridge last season. Chadwick hit several other milestones this year, including winning the CHL's Scholastic Player of the Year Award, making his professional debut with the Toronto Marlies, and being invited to Team Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase. Chadwick has shot up the prospect rankings quickly because of his ability to transform himself. He's a big defender at 6-foot-4, but his hockey IQ, positioning on the ice, and overall defending have allowed him to take leaps in other areas of his game. Confidence goes a long way, too, and that's something that Chadwick had this season with Lethbridge, which allowed for the increased offensive output in his game. "I just think confidence-wise, the mental side, I think I took a step," he said while with the Marlies in April. "I think a lot of work on my offensive game and skills in the summer. I think that was the biggest piece." While at Team Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase, Chadwick said he's continuing to work on his on-ice awareness and skating, which will be a crucial part of his game when he reaches the next level. He's already confident with his puck movement, defensive game, and on-ice body position. According to Lethbridge's GM Peter Anholt, who's also a part of Team Canada's World Juniors management group, Chadwick will be the captain of the Hurricanes next season. "I think his leadership is second to none. Give him credit for just keeping his nose to the grindstone and just keep working to get better," Anholt told TSN's Mark Masters at the Summer Showcase. As Chadwick approaches his third full season in the WHL, a good impression at Maple Leafs camp — tied with consistency throughout the year — will allow him to climb up Toronto's depth chart even more. An appearance at the World Juniors with Team Canada could catapult him further in that conversation as well. It all begins when Toronto heads to Montreal for a two-game prospect showdown at the Bell Center in mid-September. 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