Former WHL defenseman officially signs contract with Maple Leafs organization

With his year's NHL training camps officially behind them, the Toronto Maple Leafs organization officially signed a towering former WHL defenseman.

The 2024-25 NHL regular season is less than a week away from commencing, leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs down to their last preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. With such a short amount of time, before the competition gets serious, the organization has been forced to make several decisions upon the conclusion of the training camp. In total, management had to cut 21 players from their roster to be sent to their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Though these players were not awarded the privilege to be part of the opening night lineup, they now have the chance to develop into an NHL player in the AHL like many Maple Leafs before them. Among those to sign with the Toronto Marlies was 6'3" and 213-pound defenseman Rhett Parsons from the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, who is now on a two-year contract.

Much like many of his fellow hockey players, Rhett Parsons played several years in competitive youth leagues before starting his WHL tenure, including the AMBHL and CSSHL. He began playing with the Medicine Hat Tigers during the 2020-21 season, scoring one goal in 20 games. After posting 15 total points in 63 games during his second season, he was made alternate captain until he aged out of the league at the end of last season. In 219 regular-season WHL games, Rhett Parsons posted 17 goals, 52 points, and a staggering 334 penalty minutes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are shorter on right-shot defensemen than left, and Rhett Parsons could have served this role to help balance the roster. Yet, currently just shy of 21 years old, he is likely best fit to spend time improving his game with the Marlies. Given his enormous stature, he can be a major asset down the line, and after his preseason grapples and fight against Rockford IceHogs forward Logan Nijhoff, he will be a major threat in the AHL much sooner.

Source: Maple Leafs Daily
Maple Leafs Organization Officially Signs 6'3, 213-Pound Defenseman to Contract

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