The Maple Leafs just landed themselves a scoring machine who’s been lighting up the junior leagues.
Borya Valis, a 20-year-old power forward from Los Angeles, signed a three-year deal with Toronto on Saturday. The contract won’t kick in until 2025-26, but the Leafs are already excited about what they’re getting.
He’s having a monster season in the Western Hockey League, putting up 30 goals and 74 points in just 58 games for the Prince George Cougars.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Valis brings the kind of size and skill that Leafs GM Brad Treliving loves. It’s no surprise – Treliving’s been building a bigger, stronger team since he took over, including grabbing 6-foot-7 defenseman Cade Webber last year.
What’s really impressive is how Valis has taken his game to another level this season. He’s blown past his previous best of 48 points, showing he’s ready for the next step.
The undrafted forward proved he can perform when it matters most too. In last year’s playoffs, he helped push Prince George to the third round with 9 goals in 15 games.
His WHL career numbers are pretty remarkable: 87 goals and 130 assists for 217 points in 237 games.
The signing comes as Toronto’s front office is working the phones ahead of next week’s trade deadline, looking to upgrade their current roster. But by adding Valis, they’ve also managed to stock their prospect cupboard with some serious talent for the future.
