In a recent post in Editor in Leaf, a long-time ex-Toronto Maple Leafs’ player was mentioned. That player was Jeremy Bracco. After playing for the Toronto Marlies, Bracco just disappeared from my eyes.
When the Maple Leafs didn’t quality him at the end of the 2020 season, Bracco signed a two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. When he didn’t make the Hurricanes’ lineup out of training camp, he was eventually placed on waivers in January 2021 and his contract was bought out.
Bracco Finds His Way to Europe
When Bracco could not make either the Maple Leafs’ or Hurricanes’ rosters, he took his hockey skills and headed to Europe. During the remainder of the 2020-21 season, he played 24 games in the Finnish Liiga (for KalPa). There he put up 17 regular-season points and added a couple of playoffs assists in four games.
For the 2021-22 season, Bracco moved to Germany and suited up for the Krefeld Pinguine in the DEL2. There he scored 14 goals and added 40 assists (for 54 points) in 54 games – for a point-a-game average. With those numbers, he became the statistics leader for his team.
That success in Germany made him attractive as a player, and Bracco then signed a contract for the 2022-23 season with a new team – Barys Nur-Sultan in the KHL.
Bracco Is Not the First Former Maple Leafs’ Hopeful Who’s Signed in the KHL
Bracco is the second former Maple Leafs’ hopeful who’s now headed for the KHL. Josh Ho-Sang just signed after spending a season with the Marlies hoping to leverage that season into a chance for the Maple Leafs’ roster.
Bracco spent three seasons in total with the Marlies and was considered a high-end prospect. He was a former second-round draft choice of the Maple Leafs (61st overall). However, he just didn’t live up to Maple Leafs’ expectations.
Good luck to Bracco as he plies his trade in Europe and the KHL.