Confirmed Signing with Link: Toronto Marlies sign G Dryden McKay to 2 year AHL deal

[tsujimoto74]

I mean these NCAA free agents rarely live up to the hype but I do recall the Leafs having success with one who did (Tyler Bozak).

Does McKay have hype? He was routinely facing ~12 shots per game over the last few seasons, and his Hobey-Baker win was a pretty clear case of the voters rewarding a senior with a nice NCAA career.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Does he have to go through waivers ? If not, watch out for the Coyotes!

No, he signed an AHL contract. I wouldn't worry about the Coyotes - they got burned on the last one.

 

[AuraSphere]

Does McKay have hype? He was routinely facing ~12 shots per game over the last few seasons, and his Hobey-Baker win was a pretty clear case of the voters rewarding a senior with a nice NCAA career.

He does have some hype, not a lot


a lot of teams were interested from what I can remember. He was eyed as a good goalie prospect coming out of college with people wanting a piece. Hope he develops nicely with the marlies

 

[Treb]

I think the "hype" is usually more fan fueled and people set themselves up for disappointment. In a different McKay thread, another poster seemed certain that McKay is going to get fast tracked to the NHL. Whereas the more realistic thought is that he's going to have to work himself up, possibly starting in the ECHL.

Toronto is actually a good place for him to earn an NHL contract.

They don't really have a bona fide goalie prospect (Scott always injured, Kallgren is meh and Woll is ok but no blue-chip) and their NHL goalies are uncertain (Campbell is UFA and Mrazek is Mrazek).

They also have Petruzelli on a AHL deal but he's more of an ECHL goalie.

If he does well as a pro, he'll earn an NHL deal (from Toronto or someone else) before the end of next season.

My point in the other thread was that he is already 25. His chance at an NHL paycheck drop dramatically every year from now on. A single year as a backup on some goalie-deprived NHL team earn him as much money as a 10 year career in the AHL (and 20 years in the ECHL). Even being the 3rd string and warming the bench a few weeks in the NHL would earn him a bunch of money.