Former Maple Leafs draft pick is ready to return to the NHL with a one-year deal signed to the team that drafted him back in 2016. The huge 6-foot-5 defenseman named Mattias Mattinen was originally drafted by the Leafs and he spent the 2015-16 season in the OHL with the London Knights where he was teammates with Mitch Marner and won a Memorial Cup. Now, recently signed back in April 2024 with the Leafs, and he is ready to make an impact. This signing is an example of what Brad Treliving has said he wanted to complete defensively for the Leafs before the new season starts, adding size at the blue line. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/LuigiLemieux33/status/1813299508194714014'> </a></blockquote></div> Mattinen had a conversation with The Athletic's Joshua Kloke, and talked about his career now going full circle after playing in U-Sports, time in the AHL, in Austria and most recently the DEL. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TLNdc/status/1821999145017557129'> </a></blockquote></div> Mattinen had a good season last year with the Straubing Tigers in the DEL. In 52 games played he scored 46 points (16G, 30A) and was a +14. He joins the organization just when they were looking for a size difference on their defensively line as well as a right-handed shot threat. Mattinen would be set to begin with the AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies but it could only be a matter of a few games and a strong start before he is called up to the NHL level. With his veteran background of professional hockey, and any unforseen situations like injuries that can occur during the season, we could see him sooner then later. As Read On: <a href='https://www.mapleleafsdaily.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/hulking-6-foot-5-defenseman-has-sights-set-on-an-nhl-job-with-the-maple-leafs' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Hulking 6-foot-5 defenseman has sights set on an NHL job with the Maple Leafs</a>