Rookie Showcase Standout Luke Haymes Rewarded in a Big Way by the Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs won out and landed highly coveted college free agent Luke Haymes in March of this year, signing him to an entry-level contract.

Haymes finished his final season at Dartmouth with 18 points in 22 games and immediately proved why he was so highly sought-after, tallying six points in just nine regular season games with the Toronto Marlies to end last season.

Before joining the Leafs at training camp, Haymes took part in the Rookie Showcase in Montreal, where he was considered by many to be the Leafs' best player, registering 4 points in two games and blocking a shot with his face.

As the Leafs get set for their second pre-season game on Tuesday night, Haymes will skate in his second consecutive game, but the stakes seem much bigger in this one.

The 22-year-old will be centering Dakota Joshua and Nicholas Robertson on Tuesday, which puts him in a position to not only display the offensive skills he is known for, but also his defensive play, trying to find a balance between producing scoring chances for and preventing scoring chances against.

For the Ottawa, Ontario native, it is widely expected that he will begin the season with the Toronto Marlies, but if he continues to earn the trust of Leafs head coach Craig Berube and the coaching staff, while contributing offensively, he could find himself at the top of the list for call-ups when the injury bug inevitably bites the Leafs during the regular season.