OHL In The System: Toronto Maple Leafs
The latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Ben Danford (D) – Oshawa Generals (2022-24)
Signed: August 2, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 127 Games Played | 5 Goals | 49 Assists | 54 Points
Age: 18
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ first round selection at the 2024 NHL Draft, Ben Danford signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on August 2, 2024. Chosen 14th overall by the Oshawa Generals at the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 18-year-old defenceman recorded 33 points in 64 games with Oshawa during the 2023-24 season while adding 10 points in 21 playoff games, helping the team reach the Championship Series of the 2024 OHL Playoffs. The Madoc, Ont. native has posted 54 points through 127 career regular season OHL games while collecting 11 points in 26 career playoff games. Danford represented Canada Red at the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge, registering two points in seven games played.
Sam McCue (RW) – Peterborough Petes (2022-24), Soo Greyhounds (2023-24)
Selected: 216th overall, 2024 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 101 Games Played | 23 Goals | 15 Assists | 38 Points
Age: 19
Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection by the Peterborough Petes, Sam McCue has recorded 38 points in 101 regular season games played between the Petes and the Owen Sound Attack over two seasons, along with one assists in seven playoff contests. The 18-year-old forward hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup as an OHL champion with Peterborough at the end of the 2022-23 season. The Sudbury, Ont. native was chosen in the seventh round, 216th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2024 NHL Draft.
Marko Sikic (RW) – Guelph Storm (2019-22), Sarnia Sting (2022-24)
Signed (AHL): June 25, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 252 Games Played | 47 Goals | 100 Assists | 147 Points
Age: 21
Concluding a four-year OHL tenure split between the Guelph Storm and the Sarnia Sting, Marko Sikic signed a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies on June 25, 2024. Selected by the Storm in the third round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, the 21-year old forward registered 147 points in 252 regular season games played, along with six points in 21 playoff contests. The Kitchener, Ont. native helped the Sting reach the Western Conference Final in 2023 after tallying 53 points in 83 games played that season.
Jacob Frasca (RW) – Barrie Cots (2019-24), Soo Greyhounds (2023-24)
Signed (AHL): June 25, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 194 Games Played | 53 Goals | 74 Assists | 127 Points
Age: 21
Chosen by the Barrie Colts in the third round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Jacob Frasca played four OHL seasons between the Colts and the Soo Greyhounds, totaling 127 points in 194 regular season contests. The 21-year-old forward added 24 points in 30 post-season games played. The Caledon, Ont. native signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies on June 25, 2024. Frasca attended the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2023 Development Camp and the 2023 Prospect Tournament.
Chas Sharpe (D) – Mississauga Steelheads (2019-24)
Signed (AHL): April 14, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 222 Games Played | 31 Goals | 85 Assists | 116 Points
Age: 20
Chosen by the Mississauga Steelheads in the third round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Chas Sharpe played four seasons in the OHL with the franchise, tallying 116 points in 222 regular season games played, adding 10 points in 21 playoff contests. The 20-year-old blueliner recorded 53 points in 67 games this past season while serving as captain. The Orillia, Ont. native signed a two-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies on April 14, 2024.
Easton Cowan (RW) – London Knights (2021-24)
Signed: August 10, 2023
OHL Career Stats: 129 Games Played | 55 Goals | 96 Assists | 151 Points
Age: 19
Chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Easton Cowan signed his three-year entry-level contract with the organization on August 10, 2023. Selected by the London Knights in the second round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the 19-year-old forward spent the majority of the 2021-22 season developing with the Komoka Kings of the GOJHL. Over three seasons played with the Knights, Cowan has tallied 151 points in 129 regular season games, along with 57 points in 43 playoff contests. He helped the Knights reach the OHL Championship Series in 2023, and later returned in 2024 to be crowned an OHL champion after recording 96 points in 54 regular season games, and 34 points in 18 playoff contests during the 2023-24 campaign. Named to the OHL’s 2023-24 First All-Star Team, the Mount Brydges, Ont. native was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player and the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the OHL Playoffs MVP last season. Cowan represented Team Canada at the 2024 U20 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Ty Voit (RW) – Sarnia Sting (2019-23)
Signed: December 19, 2021
OHL Career Stats: 183 Games Played | 58 Goals | 155 Assists | 213 Points
Age: 21
Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Ty Voit signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on December 19, 2021. The 21-year-old forward appeared in one game with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last season, along with five games with the former ECHL Newfoundland Growlers. Chosen by Sarnia in the fifth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Voit played three seasons with the Sting, registering 213 points in 183 regular season games played. The Pittsburgh, PA. native helped Sarnia reach the Western Conference Finals in 2023, tallying 105 points in 67 regular season contests, along with 16 points in 16 playoff games. He earned the OHL’s Most Assists (81) and was named to the OHL’s Second All-Star Team at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Braeden Kressler (C) – Flint Firebirds (2019-24), Ottawa 67’s (2023-24)
Signed: October 1, 2021
OHL Career Stats: 186 Games Played | 67 Goals | 93 Assists | 160 Points
Age: 21
Braeden Kressler signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free-agent on October 1, 2021. Selected by the Flint Firebirds in the second round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, the 21-year-old forward played four seasons in the OHL between Flint and the Ottawa 67’s, tallying 160 points in 186 regular season games played, along with 18 points in 28 playoff contests. He helped the Firebirds reach the Western Conference Finals during the 2021-22 season, notching 10 points in 17 post-season games. The centreman from Kitchener, Ont. skated in the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he appeared in five games with Canada Red and recorded two assists during the tournament.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (C) – Peterborough Petes (2016-20)
Selected: 76th overall, 2018 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 248 Games Played | 38 Goals | 163 Assists | 201 Points
Age: 23
Selected by the Peterborough Petes in the second round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev played four seasons with the club, tallying 54 points in 127 games played. The 23-year-old centreman added 11 points in 17 playoff contests. Chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, the Moscow, RU. native made his NHL debut on December 6, 2022. He spent two seasons with the Toronto Marlies from 2021-23, recording 72 points in 101 games played. Der-Arguchintsev played the 2023-24 season with the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk, registering 34 points in 53 contests.
Tomorrow’s edition of In The System, features the Colorado Avalanche organization!
