<p>On Thursday, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> announced they have signed defenceman Blake Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract. Smith just completed his season with the OHL&#8217;s Flint Firebirds, recording a career-best 10 goals and 32 points in 64 games during the regular season, adding an assist in five playoff games.</p>
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<p>The deal is set to kick in next season and carry through the 2027-28 campaign.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🖊 We’ve signed defenceman Blake Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2025-26 season <a href="https://t.co/uFGJkCx38l">pic.twitter.com/uFGJkCx38l</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1910396212198383699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Smith was an undrafted defender who carved a name for himself during a four-year career in the Ontario Hockey League. Coming through the Oshawa Generals minor hockey system, he joined the OHL&#8217;s Generals in the fall of 2021, playing with fellow <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/oshawa-generals-maple-leafs-ben-danford-captain-2024-25-season">Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford</a> during the 2022-23 campaign. He spent a little over a season with the Generals before being dealt to the Flint Firebirds early in November 2022. In Flint, his game slowly progressed to become a solid two-way defenceman with elevated minutes.</p>
<p>Smith, who was an alternate captain, was a key part in helping the Firebirds punch their ticket to the OHL Playoffs for the fourth straight season. They were eliminated by the third-seeded Kitchener Rangers in the first round last week.</p>
<p>The most appealing trait of Smith is his size. He&#8217;s currently listed at 6-foot-5, weighing 225 pounds. He&#8217;s also considered by many to be a pretty good skater, something he utilizes in his own zone.</p>
<p>During his time in the &#8216;O,&#8217; the 20-year-old appeared in 244 games, scoring 13 goals and 41 assists for 54 points, amassing 204 penalty minutes with a +5 rating. He also registered four points in nine postseason games.</p>
<p>Smith is the fourth player to sign his ELC with the Leafs in the last couple of weeks. Toronto has also inked <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-sign-whl-forward-borya-valis-3-year-contract">Prince George Cougars forward Borya Valis from the WHL</a>, while adding Union Garnet Chargers <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-sign-ncaa-defenceman-john-prokop">defenseman John Prokop </a>and Dartmouth forward <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scouting-report-need-to-know-new-toronto-maple-leafs-signing-luke-haymes">Luke Haymes from the NCAA.</a></p>
<p>The current Maple Leafs (48-26-4) are first in the Atlantic Division, becoming the first team in the division to hit 100 points, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-raves-matthew-knies-tremendous-growth-breakout-season">thanks to their overtime win</a> over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Toronto is three points ahead of the Lightning <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/schedule">with four games remaining</a>.</p>
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On Thursday, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> announced they have signed defenceman Blake Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract. Smith just completed his season with the OHL's Flint Firebirds, recording a career-best 10 goals and 32 points in 64 games during the regular season, adding an assist in five playoff games.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2106" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="324"></div>
The deal is set to kick in next season and carry through the 2027-28 campaign.

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1910396212198383699

Smith was an undrafted defender who carved a name for himself during a four-year career in the Ontario Hockey League. Coming through the Oshawa Generals minor hockey system, he joined the OHL's Generals in the fall of 2021, playing with fellow <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/oshawa-generals-maple-leafs-ben-danford-captain-2024-25-season">Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford</a> during the 2022-23 campaign. He spent a little over a season with the Generals before being dealt to the Flint Firebirds early in November 2022. In Flint, his game slowly progressed to become a solid two-way defenceman with elevated minutes.

Smith, who was an alternate captain, was a key part in helping the Firebirds punch their ticket to the OHL Playoffs for the fourth straight season. They were eliminated by the third-seeded Kitchener Rangers in the first round last week.

The most appealing trait of Smith is his size. He's currently listed at 6-foot-5, weighing 225 pounds. He's also considered by many to be a pretty good skater, something he utilizes in his own zone.

During his time in the 'O,' the 20-year-old appeared in 244 games, scoring 13 goals and 41 assists for 54 points, amassing 204 penalty minutes with a +5 rating. He also registered four points in nine postseason games.

Smith is the fourth player to sign his ELC with the Leafs in the last couple of weeks. Toronto has also inked <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-sign-whl-forward-borya-valis-3-year-contract">Prince George Cougars forward Borya Valis from the WHL</a>, while adding Union Garnet Chargers <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-sign-ncaa-defenceman-john-prokop">defenseman John Prokop </a>and Dartmouth forward <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scouting-report-need-to-know-new-toronto-maple-leafs-signing-luke-haymes">Luke Haymes from the NCAA.</a>

The current Maple Leafs (48-26-4) are first in the Atlantic Division, becoming the first team in the division to hit 100 points, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-raves-matthew-knies-tremendous-growth-breakout-season">thanks to their overtime win</a> over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Toronto is three points ahead of the Lightning <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/schedule">with four games remaining</a>.
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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Leafs sign defenceman Blake Smith to 3-year, entry-level contract

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