Maple Leafs Add Grit and Physicality in 7th Rounder Sam McCue

Owen Sound Attack forward Sam McCue drafted in the seventh round, 216th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs fans who complained about Kyle Dubas’ draft day swings on small skilled forwards will be pleased to find out that Brad Treliving’s vision of adding more grit and sandpaper to the team also applies to who they target in the NHL Entry Draft.

After taking Oshawa Generals blueliner Ben Danford in the first round, 31st overall (someone who plays with some bite and physicality), Toronto went back to the OHL in the seventh round to select Owen Sound Attack gritty forward Sam McCue.

You might recognize his last name. He is the younger brother to Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect Max McCue. And he plays an almost identical game to his brother’s.

“He skates hard after every puck, collides with every opponent, and battles for every inch of ice. After passing, he skates his routes, sets picks, and pushes back the defense to create space for his teammates,” said EliteProspects about Sam McCue in their 2024 NHL Draft Guide.

The Sudbury native is a bruiser. A throwback player who makes his money through his physical abrasiveness and intensity. He’s the exact kind of prospect you would expect Treliving to target after he voiced the need for more “Snot.”

Skating is a work in progress although he does have decent straight-line speed. You can bet he'll take full advantage of Toronto's advanced development staff to work on improving his agility and edgework.  

McCue played 33 games in the regular season with Peterborough and was a black ace for them (only played three playoff games) in their run 2023 OHL Championship victory.

He was dealt midway through this past season to Owen Sound after scoring 11 goals in 34 games with the Petes. While in the Bayshore, he recorded 12 goals and 21 points in 34 games, finishing with 23 goals and 37 points on the season.

The Maple Leafs have found success in some of their late-round picks over the years in former Erie Otters Connor Brown (sixth-rounder in 2012) and Pontus Holmberg (sixth-rounder in 2018).

Could McCue surprise everyone and take significant leaps forward in his offensive development next season and project more towards becoming an NHL player? 

You could say there’s a bit of that Sudbury Tyler Bertuzzi nastiness to him, which Maple Leaf fans love.