Maple Leafs make desperate signing on Wednesday morning

Earlier on Wednesday, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs are about to sign free agent defenseman John Prokop from NCAA Union College.

Prokop is 23 years old and 6-foot-3 and has spent the current season with Union College, recording eight goals and 27 points in 36 games.

He took part in the Vegas’ development camp this past summer. Frank Seravalli had written about Prokop earlier this year. He was one of his top NCAA undrafted free agents.

“Prokop makes things happen for the Garnet Chargers. If you give the 6-foot-3 defender time and space, he’ll make you pay – as a power play quarterback equally capable of dishing the perfect pass as he is pounding the puck on net. Prokop is already 23, he turns 24 in May, so he is older, and may not necessarily fit the definition of a prospect in some teams’ eyes. But he’s been nominated for the Hobey Baker and last year was a second-team NCAA (East) All-American.”

Prokop’s deal is a one-year contract that kicks off next season. He will join the AHL’s Marlies on a ATO, per Nick Barden.

Fans in Toronto are however unimpressed by the signing, wondering why general manager Brad Treliving would look towards a player with no NHL experience to bolster his blue line. Many fans are calling it a "desperate" signing. While I agree that the signing is somewhat surprising at this time of year, it could only mean that the Maple Leafs are working on bolstering the future in Toronto, and there is nothing wrong with that.

But we get that at this time of year, fans are focused on the postseason and a long playoff run and they only want immediate success and so this signing won’t provide them with that.

However, Friedman commented about the signing in his latest 32 Thoughts column, saying: 

"The Maple Leafs just traded two first-rounders and two prospects for Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton. You need to fill your prospect pool. They aren’t done with free-agent shopping, trying for a centre.”