Toronto Maple Leafs Steal Defenseman From the Vegas Golden Knights

Left-shot U.S. defenseman John Prokop has played at Union College for the last three years. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall and will be 24 in the spring.

Union College, being a private New York institution, plays in the NCAA's ECAC league. Prokop is this season's top scorer at Union with impressive play on the ice in both scoring and as a good defenseman.

Being a good defenseman who can produce has turned him into a key player at Union. Despite having success at the College level, he wasn't a top prospect making it through all of the draft years.

All the same, he did receive a development camp invite to play with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024 as a sign that things were heating up at professional levels.

As he moves into the next step of his pro career, Prokop will probably sign on with the Toronto Maple Leafs on an entry-level contract (ELC).

For someone of his age and amount of experience, the length of the contract would likely be a year with pay to be determined.

His play at the collegiate level and recent showing at development camp suggest that he could be a legitimate candidate to take up a pro roster slot, as he has the size and can provide scoring on the blue line.

If he continues to develop, he can become a niche player in the AHL with hopes of reaching the NHL in the long run, something the Leafs are hoping for.