Maple Leafs Sign a Top Prospect to Entry-Level Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs handled some business on Thursday as general manager Kyle Dubas signed his 2020 first-round pick, Rodion Amirov. The contract is a three-year entry-level deal for the 2021-22 season.

Amirov is on his way to join the AHL's Toronto Marlies and Maple Leafs' development program after his season with Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the KHL. While the Russian prospect is on his way to Toronto for now, it's expected he will be loaned by the Maple Leafs back to the KHL for the 2021-22 season.

Dubas traded Kasperi Kapanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins and was able to land a package that included a first-round pick, which the Leafs then used to select Amirov. The Leafs GM thinks the sky is the limit and is happy to have Amirov in Canada to get a closer look at one of his top prospects:

We look forward to welcoming Rodion to Canada in the coming weeks and having him begin working with our player development staff in Toronto. We also look forward to continuing to work with Ufa with his development next season. Ufa has done an excellent job guiding Rodion's development as a player to date and we are excited to work very closely with them through the summer and into the future.

The Maple Leafs selected 15th to scoop up the 19-year-old who ended up scoring nine goals and 13 points in 39 games in the KHL last season, playing limited minutes.

Leafs Nation can expect high-end skill, speed and a fantastic hockey IQ out of Amirov and look for him to be a part of the 'next wave' of talent in Toronto.

Photo Credit: USAToday