Maple Leafs expected to sign 2016 pick Carl Grundström

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to sign 2016 second-round draft pick Carl Grundström to an entry-level deal, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.

The club drafted the Swedish winger 57th overall in June.

Grundström, 19, has spent the past three seasons playing professionally in Sweden, first with MODO and currently with Frolunda HC of the SHL.

Known for his tenacious style of play and willingness to get a little dirty, the promising prospect was initially expected to be taken in the first round but fell to the second after struggling to produce with MODO. He has turned that around this year on a new—and much stronger—team, registering 12 goals and 18 points in 44 games in the defence-driven Swedish League.

The six-foot, 194-pound forward also tallied three goals and four assists during the recent world junior championships, where Team Sweden finished fourth.

Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek called Grundström a “hard-working, honest player who plays a simple game” during the lead-up to last year’s draft, adding that he “loves to hit and has a really good wrist shot that he’s able to get off in stride.”

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