Toronto Maple Leafs on Verge of Adding Help From Collegiate Ranks?

As first reported by TSN's Darren Dreger, there are a few unsigned players who are going to be receiving some "Brunnstrom" type attention in the coming weeks, and it appears the Maple Leafs will be in the thick of things for their services.

While the Maple Leafs went through the motions in their 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Predators, Brian Burke was busy in Boston, trying to make the Maple Leafs future a little brighter.

Defensemen Matt Gilroy, Tyler Bozak, and Christian Hanson (Yes, son of Dave Hanson of the Slap Shot movies) are three prime free agents the Leafs are looking to get their paws on.  

And while there will be teams a plenty lining up for their low risk, high reward services, some are speculating the Leafs may indeed have the upper hand on at least one of them.

Gilroy, the twenty-four year old blueliner currently playing for the University of Boston, seems to have become acquainted with the Leafs GM over the past few weeks.  There were even some reports earlier today that Burke has even had dinner with Gilroy and his family on a few separate occasions in Boston.

Gilroy, who stands 6'2" and weighs in at 202 lbs, is a career plus 56 during his time with the Terriers.

Along with Gilroy, Bozak (Denver) and Hanson (Notre Dame) are also expected to be on the Leafs radar.  The Maple Leafs, of course, are selling the opportunity to get early playing time.

The buzz around Christian Hanson is no joke, nor a publicity stunt.

Whoever is able to sign the Notre Dame centre will be getting not only a solid two-way centre, but also a player who one scout describes as a kid who "reeks with character," something we know the Leafs could use a little more of.

While he isn't quite the pugilist, his father was in the famous hockey film, he is a 6'4" 228 lbs centre who plays a robust, physical style.  He is also one of the top face-off men in the CCHA.

Also making these men particularly attractive to potential suitors is the obvious fact that they will of course cost teams nothing but cash to get them into the lineup, something some hockey people are saying Gilroy and Bozak could do immediately.

Gilroy is the older of the two, and since he turns 25 this July will not have any restrictions on entry level deals, something that could eliminate some teams from the running.