The Toronto Maple Leafs signed college free agency John Prokop to an entry-level deal Thursday morning, adding another defenceman who is 6’3″ or taller.
The morning after the Toronto Maple Leafs took down the Colorado Avalanche in a tight 2-1 victory, the club announced they had college free agent John Prokop to a one-year entry level contract.
The contract between Prokop and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be for the 2025-26 NHL season and the soon to be 24-year old will join the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of their season on an Amateur Tryout contract (ATO).
After spending his draft year between the Omaha Lancers of the USHL and the Janesville Jets of the NAHL, the Wisconsin native, who will turn 24 in May, was left undrafted. Prokop would attend Union College, where he has been playing for the previous three seasons and served as an alternate captain this past season, after being undrafted in his second attempt.
During his three years playing NCAA hockey, the 6’3″ left handed defenseman recorded 20 goals and 85 points in 107 games, while adding 83 penalty minutes.
Flohockey reports that Prokop is a two-way smooth skating defenseman that can be relied in all situations and that his puck moving skills developed through his time at Union College.
The contract is just one season, but that is not due to any sort of lack of confidence or time that organization is giving to Prokop, rather the NHLPA and NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement dictates any player aged 24 will have to sign a one-year contract. At the conclusion of the 2025-26 NHL season, Prokop will remain as a restricted free agent.
Prokop will join a defense prospect pool that includes Ben Danford, Noah Chadwick and Cade Webber who all stand 6’3″ or taller that have been brought into the organization since Brad Treliving came on as general manager.
