Maple Leafs Prospect Traded, Makes Important Career Decision

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue was traded from the Flint Firebirds to the Brantford Bulldogs earlier today for a slew of draft picks that included a second round pick as well as two third rounders.

McCue was drafted in the 7th round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs with the 10th last pick. The trade is significant because as a 20-year-old during the 2025-26 season, McCue will require overage eligibility.

In the Ontario Hockey League, all teams are allowed three players over the age of 20-years-old. A player is considered to be eligible if they are 19 years old or older and they're only allowed one overage season during their career.

The Sudbury native scored a combined 23 goals and 37 points in 68 games split between the Peterborough Petes and the Owen Sound Attack during his draft season. He then added 36 goals and 55 points in 55 games split between Owen Sound and Flint this year.

It's an interesting career choice from McCue as he is foregoing professional hockey for at least one more season as he was eligible to join the Toronto Marlies of the AHL or even the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.

Now on his 4th team since 2023-24 and being an overage player, expect big things from the soon-to-be 20-year old as he looks to put his stamp on his OHL career and potentially make amends for going without a point in 5 playoff games en route to a defeat against Kitchener in the first round.

As a 7th round pick, there probably wasn't a lot of expectations for the youngster right away, but after a point-per-game campaign last year, McCue should be in for a bigger year as he steps onto the ice for the Eastern Conference leading Bulldogs who posted a 44-19-5 record before losing out in the second round of the OHL playoffs to fellow Leafs prospect Ben Danford and the Oshawa Generals.