Maple Leafs Sign Goalie Ian Scott to Entry-Level Contract

The WHL standout gets a deal.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have signed goaltender Ian Scott to an entry-level contract.

Scott was drafted 110th overall out of the Western Hockey League in 2017, to the mild confusion of some fans who wondered what was there given his unimpressive top line numbers (an .895 save percentage in 50 games.) His D+1 season looked similar (.897 in 50), and as of this summer he wasn’t too much thought about in the Leafs fanbase, generally being considered well behind Boston College’s Joseph Woll in the Toronto goalie pipeline.

Things can change pretty quickly with prospects.

Scott has been an absolute brick wall for the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders this year, putting up a staggering .943 save percentage in 26 games en route to a dynamite 23-2-1 record. At the time of his draft, Scott was considered a cool-headed, rangy goalie with good fundamentals who had yet to really put his game together and dominate in junior. He seems to have done so now. This caps off a very nice week for Scott, as he looks to be in contention with OHLer Michael DiPietro to be Team Canada’s starting goalie at the upcoming World Junior Championships. (Scott is 19; he turns 20 in January.)

His age and the fact Scott came out of Canadian juniors do mean that he’s not an imminent solution to the goalie woes on the AHL’s Toronto Marlies; he won’t be able to join them, if so desired, until his junior season ends. Marlies fans might selfishly hope for an early elimination for the Raiders given how poor the AHL club’s goaltending has been, but if Scott keeps playing like he has been, they’ll be hoping in vain.

You can read more about Scott’s showing in the Canada-Russia series here. The impression he gives is of a very calm young goaltender, and that bodes well for his future development. Drafting goalies is always a bit of a dice roll, but Mark Hunter may have found a good one in Ian Scott.