March 1st is an important day on the NHL calendar as it’s the first day that players can sign future contracts that begin the following season. The Maple Leafs have wasted little time getting one of those done as they’ve signed forward Borya Valis to a three-year, entry-level deal as announced by his agent Dan Milstein (Twitter link). The team subsequently confirmed the move. PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that the deal will carry a $872.5K cap charge and a $975K AAV including signing and games-played bonuses.
The 20-year-old is playing his final season at the major junior level. He started his WHL career with Regina in 2021, spending parts of three seasons with the team. The second of those was his draft-eligible year and while he secured a ranking of 152nd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, he went undrafted in 2023 and 2024.
Last season, Valis was traded midseason, going from Regina to Prince George. Between the two teams, he picked up 26 goals and 44 assists in 67 regular season games before adding 13 points in 15 postseason contests. He’s producing at a better clip this year, tallying 29 goals and 44 helpers through 57 contests with the Cougars, one of four Western Conference teams to already clinch a playoff spot.
As the contract begins next season, Valis won’t count against Toronto’s 50-contract limit until the summer. In the meantime, should the Cougars be eliminated while the AHL Marlies are still playing in their postseason, he will be eligible to join and play for them on an ATO agreement, giving him some time with the team he’s likely to play for when the contract begins in 2025-26.