Nathan Mayes

September 2026 – Toronto let Mayes’ rights expire at the end of his signing window, declining to use a contract slot on a player who, despite some offensive progress in 2024-25, took a step back this past year – two goals and 16 points in 63 WHL games with Spokane. The physical tools are real for the 6-4 blueliner, and the penalty minutes will always be there, but the offensive growth that briefly made him interesting did not carry over. Ryan Downey

August 2025 – A hard-hitting defenseman who will rack up penalty minutes, and his 2024-25 season saw him start to produce more offense. In 56 regular-season games with the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League, Mayes produced 27 points (six goals and 21 assists) and an additional 12 points (two goals and 10 assists) in 20 playoff games. Mayes does not necessarily create offense, as most of his assists are secondary, but he is trending in a positive direction when it comes to contributing offensively. Another positive sign in development was his plus-15 in 2024-25 compared to a minus-16 during the 2023-24 season. Mayes has an opportunity to develop into a solid bottom-pairing defenseman at the NHL level and could become a player to watch in fantasy, proving value in hits and PIM categories, who could chip in offensively on occasion over the next couple of seasons if all goes well in his development. Mark Henry

June 2024 – The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Mayes in the seventh round (225th overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Mark Henry