Leafs may have hit a home run with 6-foot-4 defensive prospect

The Maple Leafs have done a pretty good job in recent years with players like Brandon Lisowsky, Ty Voit, Vyacheslav Peksa, and Ryan Tverberg just to name a few - all of whom were also drafted after the 5th round. The Leafs might have found yet another diamond in the rough with defenseman Noah Chadwick.

The Leafs only had 3 picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and selected Easton Cowan in the first round, Hudson Malinoski in the 5th, and Chadwick in the 6th. The 6'4/200lbs defenseman is off to a hot start as he has almost matched his 2022-23 point totals in 45 less games.

Chadwick has 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in just 21 games after scoring 5 goals and 20 points in 67 games last season for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He may not be a well-known name just yet but EliteProspect had a favourable bio on the left-handed defender:

"Chadwick moves through pass receptions, fakes plays, uses space, looks for teammates around the slot over shooting from the point. If a point shot's the best play, he usually aims for sticks instead of corners. He shows a similar desire to create in transition, forgoing dump-outs for passes through opponents, deceiving if necessary. Defensively, he gets on opponents early and angles them to the outside; his well-timed pokes and stick work make him an effective rush defender"

Chadwick is on pace for 19 goals and 54 points if he keeps up his pace and for a 6th round pick who is only 18-years-old, that's a pretty formidable way to start your career.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603568/noah-chadwick