The Toronto Maple Leafs made another roster cut Tuesday morning, loaning Noah Chadwick back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League.
The @MapleLeafs have loaned defenceman Noah Chadwick to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) September 24, 2024
Chadwick never played in a preseason game, with his only appearance on the roster coming as a healthy scratch in the first contest on Sunday. He did play in both games at the 2024 Prospect Showdown where he recorded an assist on a Braeden Kressler goal.
It may seem detrimental for Chadwick sent back down to the WHL so quickly into training camp, especially given he was our seventh-ranked prospect. But make no mistake: there is a long way before Chadwick will be a legitimate option to crack the Leafs’ lineup and he needs some more seasoning to round out his game.
Lethbridge recently named Chadwick as its captain, with the assumption that he’d be returning to major junior. Chadwick is certainly honoured to have received the distinction as was noted in a press release from the team.
“I’m super honoured and it’s a privilege to be named the captain of the Hurricanes and it’s something that I’m not going to take lightly,” he said. “To be able to take over from a great captain in Joe [Arntsen] is an honour. I bring a lot of different aspects to the role than him, but he’s a fantastic leader and he helped shape me and he showed what it means to be the captain.”
Chadwick is coming off a strong season where he recorded 56 points (12 goals and 44 assists) in 66 games to lead all Hurricanes defenders, finishing fourth on the team in scoring. He also registered one assist in four playoff games before earning a one-game stint with the Marlies to conclude the year. This helped Chadwick secure himself an entry-level contract with the Leafs, win the CHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year award, and get invited to Hockey Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase alongside Easton Cowan.
Although he’s yet to play in the NHL, Chadwick is quickly outperforming return on value as a 2023 sixth-round pick and is one of the most intriguing prospects to watch in junior this season.
Chadwick is expected to get a bigger role in the WHL in his senior year with the Hurricanes and is also in consideration to participate in the World Juniors this winter based on his previously mentioned invitation to the Summer Showcase. All of which is to say, Chadwick is going to be one of the most intriguing Leafs prospects to keep track of this season.
