Toronto Marlies Notebook: (Un)Arrested Development

Hours before the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped an underwhelming contest to the rival Bruins, the Toronto Marlies extended their points streak to a jaw-dropping 12 games with a 7-1 pummeling of the Laval Rocket.

This team isn’t just dominant, they’re approaching a historical stratosphere.

Far and away the best team in the AHL, nothing stands between them and a Calder Cup Championship.

And yet, there are certainly some storylines surrounding this Marlies. With additions, subtractions, and a whole lot else, there’s a lot to talk about.

With that said, let’s jump right in.

Developmental Prowess

As the Marlies continue to amass heaps of statistical success, it’s easy to forget about the underlying responsibility of this team, that being player development.

The AHL, while still considered to be the world’s second-highest level of pro hockey (I’m sure the KHL will have something to say about that), remains, at its core a “developmental league”.

Well, it seems as if we can chalk up development as yet another aspect in which the Marlies pace the league. And nothing shines a more flattering light on an organization’s prowess in that department quite like going up against the Laval Rocket.

For all the shortcomings of the Montreal Canadiens organization, and there certainly are plenty, it’s an overwhelming dearth of promising young talent that stands above all.

Teenage Wasteland

Remember last year’s trade deadline? Reportedly, the Habs were right in the middle of the Matt Duchene sweepstakes.

Colorado was allegedly willing to part with their former-star, but only for a package consisting of draft picks, a roster player and a blue-chip prospect. And, that blue-chipper was none other than Montreal’s 21-year-old winger Michael McCarron, a former first-round pick.

A calendar year later, and it’s mind-boggling to think of McCarron ever being that highly touted.

Aside from a first-period fight with Andrew Nielsen (of course) coming after going down 3-0, McCarron was invisible. Frankly, so was the rest of his team.

Needless to say, that does not bode well for the Habs future moving forward.

What Happened?

In September, I watched defensive prospect Noah Juulsen tear up the rookie tournament.

The youngster carried himself with the level of on-ice composure befitting of a borderline NHL talent. On Saturday, he was a non-factor.

Remember Charlie Lindgren? You know, the same goaltender who strung together back-to-back shutouts in the NHL as a rookie earlier this season?

Lindgren was the sole factor keeping Montreal’s head somewhat above water when Carey Price went down with his annual injury. Seven Marlies goals later, and you could have fooled me.

This highlights the gap which separates an organization on the rise, the Leafs, and the one headed in the complete opposite direction, the Habs.

Not only are is Toronto perched 15 points up on a playoff spot, but they’re also sitting atop a bonafide treasure trove of young talent. Studs the likes of Jeremy Bracco, Timothy Liljegren, and Garret Sparks are not only showing they belong at the pro level.

If they keep this up, they’ll be NHL ready sooner than later.

The Canadiens, meanwhile, are a lottery team with a farm system so bare, you’d think locusts had just decimated their crops. And don’t give me the Marc Bergevin excuse of “we only get to pick first rounders in the 20-30 spots”.

That’s a bunch of malarkey.

Bracco was a second-rounder. So was Travis Dermott. Sparks and Andreas Johnsson were both seventh rounders. Adam Brooks, who is making positive strides, was picked in the fourth.

You don’t need a lottery pick to build a good farm system. Just ask the Oilers.

What you do need, however, is intelligent scouts to compliment a solid developmental system. Toronto has both of those things, while Montreal has none.

Vive la Habitent! 

Soshnikov’s Return

Boy, it’s hard to watch Nikita Soshnikov dominate the AHL and not think he’d be a good Leo Komarov replacement down the line.

Sosh, in every essence, is far too good for this level. On Saturday, he scored a beautiful backdoor goal, drove the play on every shift, and anchored both special teams units.

In short, he looked like an NHLer.

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/959900579253374984

Alas, there just doesn’t seem to be room for him in the Leafs lineup.

Soshnikov is now 24, the age generally regarded as where players begin to plateau. Time is running out for him to establish himself at the highest level.

The good news, for him anyway, is that his trade value undoubtedly rose on the weekend.

I’d wager that a healthy, productive Sosh is something a number of NHL clubs, like Edmonton, would pony up for. He’s a defensively responsible player who can bring energy and speed in a bottom-six role. We’ve seen him prove that.

The only question, and it’s a big one, is his health.

When I asked Soshnikov if he was back to 100% after the game, he had this to say:

Yeah, I think I’m close. You know, I have some little things. I think nobody is 100% right now at this point in the year. So, I can push through it.

While he certainly seemed confident about his health, it’s alarming to think of yet another stretch of Soshnikov “pushing through” injury. He did have a full two months off, after all.

Regardless, Soshnikov is using this long-term conditioning stint to prove to anyone who will watch that he deserves an NHL shot. A shot that will likely be given to him by a team without a 416 area code.

AHL Player of the Week

In the American Hockey League, there are two levels of stardom.

There are the AHL superstars, a group consisting of older players with a minimal chance of graduating up a level, who, through a combination of skill and longevity, rise above their respective peers.

Alternatively, there are the superstars who are NHL-calibre players that just happen to be playing in the AHL.

Andreas Johnsson undoubtedly falls into the latter category.

The last two weeks for Johnsson have been quite the ride. He went from representing his team in the AHL All-Star Classic, to recording a natural hat trick in the Marlies trouncing of Rochester, to scoring a highlight reel goal on Saturday against Laval.

As a reward for his efforts, he was named AHL Player of the Week, and deservedly so.

In any other organization (Montreal), Johnsson would be in the NHL by now, probably in a top-six role. As Sheldon Keefe noted about his Swedish star following Saturday’s victory:

He’s proving to be a dominant player that’s just waiting for his opportunity. If you’re playing as a regular on this team, you’re a very good player.

With a defender draped over him like a shag carpet, Johnsson still managed to power through and score a gorgeous breakaway goal.

Perhaps the biggest indicator of Johnsson’s ability is the way in which opponents react to his mere presence. When Johnsson stepped on the ice, Laval noticed and went at him. Hard.

At this point, if Johnsson isn’t a Toronto Maple Leaf come training camp next season, something is wrong. What else is there for him to prove at this level?

Plus, with a number of established veterans potentially leaving in the summer, a spot will be his for the taking.

Quick Thoughts

• Despite having just wrapped up a 7-1 victory over a fierce rival, Kerby Rychel seemed noticeably angry following his post-game interview. This is pure speculation, but I’d wager that the former first-round pick is growing tired of AHL bus rides, and feels another shot in the NHL has been earned. Unfortunately, Rychel just isn’t fast enough to succeed at the higher level. His upright skating style is bizarre, almost like he’s bailing hay, and it hurts his overall foot speed. If he hasn’t figured something that vital out by now, the chances of him ever doing so decrease by the day.
• Sheldon Keefe revealed post-game that Timothy Liljegren was scratched for both weekend games due to lingering pain from a lower-body injury. The Marlies had hoped Liljegren would be healthy once the All-Star break ended, but that just didn’t seem to be the case. I do love the sense of caution the organization is applying to their young star. The Marlies have the depth to make up for Liljegren’s absence, and he’s precious cargo. Let him heal.
• Check out Scott Wheeler’s fantastic profile of the friendship between goaltenders Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard. In a league where competition for roster spots is fierce, this tandem does nothing but support each other. It’s really nice to see.

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