Winger Justin Brazeau is not like most of the Maple Leafs’ top prospects.
For one thing, he’s six-foot-six, a rarity in a program that seemed to want to corner the market on players under five-foot-11.
Also, he was never drafted. The North Bay Battalion winger was passed over three times by NHL teams.
“My first year, my hopes weren’t too high,” said Brazeau. “My second year, that was more disappointing. Last year, I knew it was a bit of a stretch given what happened the first two years. It was disappointing, but you build on that.”
Indeed he did, scoring a Battalion-record 61 goals to go with 52 assists in 68 games. That caught the attention of NHL scouts, and the Leafs signed the 21-year-old free agent to a two-year contract with the AHL’s Marlies.
“Toronto was the best fit for me going forward, with their development plan,” the native of New Liskeard, Ont. said Saturday at the Leafs’ development camp. “I can come down here this summer, train and skate. This was the best setup for me. They gave me the best chance at making my pro career go forward.”