Players in this summer’s Toronto camp worth watching, at least in terms of being possibilities for the Growlers in 2019-20, include forwards Trey Bradley, Justin Brazeau, Colt Conrad and Riley Woods, all undrafted players who are signed to AHL deals with the Toronto Marlies.
Bradley and Conrad both saw some limited action with the Marlies at the end of last season after finishing four-year university careers. Woods comes from the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, while Brazeau is expected to challenge for a job with the Marlies after putting up 113 points, including 61 goals, as the overage captain of the Ontario Hockey League’s North Bay Battalion in 2018-19.
Another major junior captain, 20-year-old forward James Hamblin of the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers, is in camp, although not yet signed to any deal by the Maple Leafs. Also from the WHL is Czech world junior defenceman Filip Král, a Toronto fourth-round pick from 2018 who turns 20 in October, but isn’t signed either.
Danish defenceman Oliver Joakim Larsen and 22-year-old Austrian forward Lukas Haudum, who’ve both played in the most recent world men’s championship, are in the prospects camp, but are set to skate in European leagues this fall.
Defencemen Mac Hollowell and Joseph Duszak both turned pro with the Marlies in the spring, Hollowell after finishing his OHL career and Duszak after leaving Mercyhurst College and the U.S. university ranks. They’re in camp this week, too, although both have entry-level NHL deals, which makes them more likely for the Marlies’ roster. Only one player with an NHL deal — goaltender Eamon McAdam — was a regular with the Growlers last season.