Nick Blankenburg’s PTO Could Be Underrated Move for Maple Leafs

Training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs is about to get underway as well as the 2026-27 season.

There was a slew of offseason changes for the Maple Leafs, especially on defense where the emphasis was more mobility and speed on the backend. The additions of Darren Radydsh and Emil Andrae show that, but bringing in right shot defenseman Nick Blankenburg on a professional tryout definitely makes it known that they want more puck movement and efficiency on the backend. 

The competition is now going to be fierce on the backend. With Andrae looking to make his mark on a new team, Blankenburg is coming with a lot to prove as well, which could be another underrated move for their defense.  

Blankenburg’s Two-Way Play Can be Beneficial

It was initially reported that the Maple Leafs would be signing Blankenburg to a PTO, but they made it official on Monday. Blankenburg split last season between the Nashville Predators and then was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche, posting a combined eight goals and 24 points. 

At 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, he’s not your average sized defender, but he can still make an impact on both sides of the puck, mainly off the rush and on the breakout. Given the moves they made, Blankenburg really adds to that aspect of the game as he can be efficient when creating smart breakout plays leading to rush chances. He’s clearly a third pairing defender, but his ability to provide a strong balance of offense and defense in that role is the identity that this Maple Leafs team wants.

When he was on the ice with both the Predators and Avalanche, Blankenburg had a Corsi for percentage and expected goals percentage above 50% and though his scoring chances for percentage dipped with the Avalanche (48.89%) he had a 53.69% with the Predators. Even though he played in only five playoff games with the Avalanche, he had a 68.67 CF%, a 65.86 xG% and 65.71 SCF%. A small sample, but he elevated his impact while being in a depth role. 

Last season, the Maple Leafs relied heavily on Troy Stecher to be that two-way player when the injuries piled on and wants to stay with the team. Now with Andrae and Blankenburg, they have a leg up as they’re younger and faster. Blankenburg being in the mix is going to make things interesting. Despite his size, he has proven to be a solid depth piece on any blueline so far in his career.  He’s quick, agile, smart and can hold his own in engagements despite his stature. 

His ability to make those accurate breakouts and assess each situation with his vision and awareness in his own zone will benefit the Maple Leafs greatly. We’ve seen smaller players make a name for themselves and even though he’s not going to be a premier defender on this team, he’s going to play a big role and be beneficial to the team’s success.

Crowded Blue Line Will Make Camp Interesting

With the competition coming down to Blankenburg, Andrae and Stecher, the battle is going to be high for all three players to earn a roster spot. Given how they have a similar skillset, the injuries they faced last season, having Blankenburg on board is a great back-up plan. That way you can insert him as a third or even second pairing defender.

The Maple Leafs are now at 50 roster spots with Blankenburg on the PTO, which will make things interesting. If he comes in and can steal a spot on a crowded blueline then he did something right, but also forces general manager John Chayka’s hand to make a move and let someone go. Be it a veteran or minor league player that is eyeing for a spot and there are a number of them that want to be that call-up when something happens.

With a short training camp about to start and little room for error, Blankenburg doesn’t have a long leash to make an impact. He’s got to stand out from the pack and show that he wants to stay and play a role for this team. He has carved himself to be a serviceable and results driven defender in the past and he has an opportunity to do that again.