Hayes Hundley thrilled to join Maple Leafs prospect pool

Article content

As part of our Maple Leafs coverage at the Toronto Sun, we’re keeping tabs on the club’s prospects, checking in on a weekly basis with the Leafs’ hopefuls across the hockey landscape.

Article content

Today, we talk to defencemen Hayes Hundley and Vinny Borgesi of the Toronto Marlies.

Article content

Article content

Spring is in the air and, for National Hockey League teams, it’s that time of year to mine NCAA rosters and sign players that could one day progress to the point that they’re NHL-ready.

Hundley and Borgesi are coming at their employment in the Leafs organization — aside from both patrolling the blue line — from completely different angles.

HAYES HUNDLEY ARRIVES

First to Hundley, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract on March 27.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

The 21-year-old Hundley left the University of St. Thomas following his rookie season to sign with Toronto.

He’s with the Marlies on an amateur tryout before his contract starts in 2026-27. Hundley previously had not been to Toronto before arriving this week.

Article content

Article content

After catching the attention of Leafs director of college scouting and player recruitment Chris Bourque, it wasn’t a hard decision for Hundley, a native of Ohio, to agree to a contract after just one year of NCAA hockey.

“I just felt a lot of love from Toronto early on, felt a connection there,” Hundley said on Thursday at the Ford Performance Centre, following his first full practice with the Marlies. “It was ultimately up to me to decide if I was ready to come out of school. The resources for development here seemed endless.

“It’s perfect to get in here right now and meet everybody, meet the staff, meet the guys, get my feet wet. Next year, I can come in and hit the ground running.”

Marlies coach John Gruden, naturally, welcomes any chance to help develop any young player. With Hundley, what comes in the next few years will be crucial. He shoots right and has good size — he’s 6-foot-3, 210 pounds — and wants to learn.

Article content

Gruden knows Hundley’s coach at St. Thomas, Enrico Blasi, and liked what he when he got in touch to ask about Hundley.

“He’s raw, but has definitely some huge upside to what he could become,” Gruden said. “You can see it in the skating, you can see it in the size.

“There’s definitely something there. We have a really good scouting staff and they’re not just going to pick his name out of a hat. When you’re an organization looking for right-handed defencemen … it’s our job as a staff to help him along that path.”

Considering he was not an NHL draft pick, what would Hundley have said year ago after a season with Fargo of the USHL if he had been told that in 12 months he’d be taking initial steps with the Leafs organization?

“I would have said it’s possible, but it sounds a little far-fetched,” Hundley said with a smile. “I’m a late-bloomer. I’ve always had a couple extra years to grow, versus being the bigger, stronger, faster guy. I always knew it was possible. It was just a question of how was I going to develop in the past couple years.. I’ve taken steps each year.”

Article content

We asked Hundley about his unusual first name. Though he grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, he said there’s no connection to the late and legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes. And there’s no family history of it.

“There’s not a whole lot of a story,” Hundley said. “My parents (Julie and Drew) just liked the name.”

If Hundley makes a name for himself in Toronto, the Leafs will be satisfied.

BORGESI MAKING HIS MARK

Borgesi, listed at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, is at the other end of the size spectrum from Hundley.

Speed and hockey IQ were assets as Borgesi, a native of Philadelphia, progressed through four years at Northeastern University. There are leadership qualities as well, as Borgesi not only was Northeastern’s captain in 2025-26, but also wore the C for the U.S. collegiate select team at the Spengler Cup this past winter.

Article content

Like Hundley, part of the draw for Borgesi in signing in Toronto — he’s on an amateur tryout as well, as his two-year contract begins next season — was the opportunity to work with Jake Muzzin and Mark Giordano on the organization’s staff.

“You’re not going to get better coaches than that when you step on the sheet,” Borgesi, 22, said. “It’s about picking their brains and looking at parts in my game that I think I can improve in. They’ve been awesome to me and really helped me out already. I know I can lean on them.”

Borgesi’s first impression on Gruden through three games has been positive.

“He has a presence to him,” Gruden said. “He’s smaller in stature, but he doesn’t play like it and he’s not intimidated by anything.

“Physically, he’s not getting pushed out of the game. Those are good signs, especially for a young guy to come in this early and have an impact.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content