Maple Leafs sign Jon Gillies to professional tryout

On Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have invited goaltender Jon Gillies to training camp on a professional tryout.

It’s a notable camp addition for the Leafs, as Gillies has not played since the 2022-23 season. He was last seen with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he posted a 1-1 record in three appearances, a 4.57 goals-against average, and a .864 save percentage.

The Concord, New Hampshire native has spent most of his professional career in the minor leagues, with his biggest stint in the NHL coming during the 2021-22 campaign with the New Jersey Devils. That year, he went 3-10-1 in 19 games with a 3.76 GAA and .885 SV%.

Gillies was taken by the Calgary Flames in the third round, 75th overall of the 2012 NHL Draft. He was one of the top goaltending prospects for a few years, but his game never translated to the NHL. The now-30-year-old bounced around the league, making stops with the St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes organizations.

In 35 NHL games, Gillies has an 8-16-3 record with a 3.39 GAA and .891 SV%. In 184 American Hockey League games, he has a record of 78-71-32 with a 2.94 GAA, a .904 SV% and nine shutouts.

It will be hard for Gillies to crack the NHL roster in Toronto, as the team already has Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz signed for next season. He could crack the AHL roster, even though the Toronto Marlies were led by Dennis Hildeby last season.

Gillies was a decorated goaltender prior to making the jump to the pro ranks. He played for the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2013 and 2014, backing up John Gibson as the Americans won gold in 2013. Gillies had an illustrious career at Providence College, helping the Friars win the program’s first and so far only NCAA Championship, in 2015. He was named the tournament’s most valuable player and placed on the All-Tournament Team. Gillies was a two-time Hockey East First-Team All-Star and was a second-team All-American in 2015.