Maple Leafs Secure NCAA Defencemen Hayes Hundley and Vinny Borgesi to Strengthen Future Roster
In a strategic move to enhance their prospect pipeline, the Toronto Maple Leafs have recently signed defencemen Hayes Hundley and Vinny Borgesi from the NCAA ranks. These acquisitions come as the organization focuses on developing young talent that could eventually contribute at the NHL level.
Hayes Hundley: A Promising Right-Handed Defenceman
Hayes Hundley, a 21-year-old native of Ohio, inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs on March 27. After completing his rookie season at the University of St. Thomas, Hundley decided to forego further college hockey to join Toronto's system. He is currently with the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an amateur tryout, with his contract set to commence in the 2026-27 season.
Hundley's decision to sign was influenced by the strong interest shown by the Leafs' scouting department, particularly director of college scouting Chris Bourque. "I just felt a lot of love from Toronto early on, felt a connection there," Hundley remarked during a practice session at the Ford Performance Centre. "The resources for development here seemed endless. It's perfect to get in here right now and meet everybody, meet the staff, meet the guys, get my feet wet. Next year, I can come in and hit the ground running."
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, Hundley brings considerable size and a right-handed shot to the blue line. Marlies coach John Gruden highlighted his potential, noting, "He's raw, but has definitely some huge upside to what he could become. You can see it in the skating, you can see it in the size. There's definitely something there." Gruden also emphasized the organization's need for right-handed defencemen and the importance of nurturing Hundley's development.
Reflecting on his rapid progression from the USHL's Fargo team to the Leafs organization, Hundley admitted, "I would have said it's possible, but it sounds a little far-fetched. I'm a late-bloomer. I've always had a couple extra years to grow, versus being the bigger, stronger, faster guy. I always knew it was possible. It was just a question of how was I going to develop in the past couple years. I've taken steps each year."
Vinny Borgesi: Leadership and Hockey IQ
On the other end of the size spectrum, Vinny Borgesi, a 22-year-old from Philadelphia, brings a different set of skills to the Maple Leafs. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Borgesi recently completed four years at Northeastern University, where he served as team captain during the 2025-26 season. He also captained the U.S. collegiate select team at the Spengler Cup this past winter.
Borgesi's signing was motivated by the opportunity to work with former NHL defencemen Jake Muzzin and Mark Giordano, who are now part of the Leafs' development staff. "You're not going to get better coaches than that when you step on the sheet," Borgesi stated. "It's about picking their brains and looking at parts in my game that I think I can improve in. They've been awesome to me and really helped me out already. I know I can lean on them."
Coach Gruden has been impressed with Borgesi's early performances, observing, "He has a presence to him. He's smaller in stature, but he doesn't play like it and he's not intimidated by anything. Physically, he's not getting pushed out of the game. Those are good signs, especially for a young guy to come in this early and have an impact."
Organizational Focus on Development
The signings of Hundley and Borgesi underscore the Maple Leafs' commitment to building a robust prospect pool through the NCAA route. As spring arrives, NHL teams often scour college rosters for undrafted talent that can be molded into future contributors. Both players are seen as projects with significant upside, and their development will be closely monitored by the Leafs' coaching and scouting staff.
Key points about the signings include:
- Hayes Hundley signed a three-year entry-level contract after one NCAA season.
- Vinny Borgesi brings leadership experience from his captaincy at Northeastern.
- Both players are currently on amateur tryouts with the Toronto Marlies.
- The Leafs aim to leverage their development resources to maximize the potential of these young defencemen.
As the Maple Leafs continue to evaluate and integrate new talent, the additions of Hundley and Borgesi represent a forward-looking approach to team building. Their progress in the coming seasons will be crucial in determining their ability to eventually secure spots on the NHL roster.
