Leafs Sign Luke Schenn to Entry-Level Deal

[Thrillhouse]

Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that the hockey club has signed defenceman Luke Schenn to a three-year entry level contract.

“Luke’s got a bright future in the NHL and we are very excited to have him signed to a contract,” said Fletcher. “He had a great training camp during which he demonstrated a lot of poise and skill for a young defenceman.”

Schenn, an 18-year-old native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was selected fifth overall by Toronto in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft held in Ottawa. In seven preseason games with the Leafs, he scored one goal and one shootout game-winning goal, along with two penalty minutes and a plus-three rating.

In 2007-08, Schenn played 57 games for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League collecting seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points, along with 100 penalty minutes. He was selected to the WHL’s Western Conference Second All-Star Team. As well he was a team captain at the 2008 CHL Top Prospects game in Edmonton where he scored a goal and earned a plus-2 rating.

Internationally, Schenn won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championships. In seven games played he ranked first on the team with a plus-five rating. He also won a gold medal while playing for Canada at the 2007 World Under-18 Championships, during which he played six games and scored three goals.

[Thrillhouse]

I'm excited to see Schenn get his feet wet at the beginning of the season but I don't want him here for the whole season. Go back to the Dub, no point in keeping him and wasting a year of him when we're tanking. I want to see him developed properly.

[HordiBrusk29]

Hopefully for Schenn's sake he is returned to junior sooner rather than later.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

Based on his play (and the lackluster play by others on the blueline) in the pre-season, Schenn could and should be on Leafs. We haven't had a prospect with this much upside since Wendel Clark. The guy can just flat out play. Having said that, I personally don't want him here this year.

Sending Lucky Luke back to Kelowna for a year won't count towards the 3 year entry level deal. It buys us an extra year of having him under contract until the entry level deal expires. Since the team doesn't really intend to be competetive for a few years, it makes sense.

[bupz91]

Great talent the Leaf's have here. It's good that he can start out on the leafs.