Toronto Maple Leafs: Mason Marchment Signs ELC

It may have been coined by the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have brought “Trust the Process” into the NHL.

Mason Marchment, the recipient of a freshly-signed entry-level contract, exemplifies this perfectly.

Passing through the 2013 draft unselected, the Leafs saw enough raw talent in the now 23-year-old to take a chance on him. Sensing his potential as an impactful player for the loaded Marlies, Marchment inked an ATO at the tail end of the 2015-16 season, suiting up for 3 scoreless games.

For Marchment, the message relayed to him by Leafs management was simple. Trust in the process, and good things will happen.

And that’s exactly what he did.

Beginning the 2016-17 season with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, Marchment chipped in 20 points in 36 games, eventually earning another late-season audition with the Marlies. Returning to Orlando for the playoffs, he further elevated his game, registering 5 points in 7 games.

To cap off a whirlwind second year in the Leafs organization, Marchment’s strong showing at September’s rookie camp, earned him a permanent spot on the 2017-18 Marlies.

What Are the Leafs Getting?

To say Marchment started the season off on a tear would be a gross understatement. With 11 points in his first nine games, quite a few heads turned towards the unique skillset Marchment possesses.

A skillset headlined by a devastating shot used to score goals like this.

Marchment’s 21 points in 37 games this season may not stand out initially, context is required to fully appreciate it.

Suffering a shoulder injury in Dember forced him to miss the following 14 games, derailing an otherwise blistering start. As is the case with most developing players, Marchment took roughly a month to reach full strength again.

For the better part of January, he was hopping in and out of the lineup, struggling to regain the momentum that drove his earlier offensive success.

Once again, trusting the process worked.

From February 23rd on, Marchment has registered seven points in 10 games, while looking far less hesitant to engage physically than when he was nursing an ailment.

Now, with Andreas Johnsson firmly with the Leafs, Marchment has assumed his net-front role on the Marlies second power-play unit.

Physical Maturity

Despite inking his first pro contract, it’s important to remember that Marchment is still developing.

Weighing in at 201 pounds, he certainly possesses the physical tools that suggest he can become an effective big league player. The caveat, however, is that weight is stretched across a 6’4″ frame.

To reach the next level, it’s essential for Marchment to mature physically. With some extra heft to throw around, he diversifies his usage. This allows him to assume roles other than that of a top-six winger.

Market Inefficiency

Although, these next steps are exactly what Toronto looks for.

When signing Marchment in 2016, the Leafs took a chance on an undrafted, albeit offensively gifted prospect. Best case, he plays his way into the organization’s future. Worst case, they cut him loose at minimal financial cost.

This alternative approach to asset management further showcases the genius of Assistant General Manager Kyle Dubas. In the sport of hockey, with a culture far too resistant to out-of-the-box thinking, Dubas is a breath of fresh air.

What the Leafs have done is identify a talent pool filled with NHL potential both overseas and in undrafted free agents. Wading into this uncharted territory, they can sign these under-the-radar prospects to AAV deals, plugging them into a highly effective developmental system which moulds them into well-rounded players.

Such a process has gifted them with talents like Nikita Zaitsev, Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen and now Marchment, to name a few.

Essentially, this opens up an alternate pipeline of young talent to be used in tandem with the entry draft. With the opportunity to acquire talents roughly equivalent to those in the draft’s third round and beyond using this method, the Leafs can now use the picks they do have to improve their team in the present.

For example, reportedly having a deal in place to sign promising Russian defender Alexei Ozhiganov this summer likely made the price of a second rounder for Tomas Plekanec far more palatable.

Because, if the undrafted 21-year-old signed to an ATO can earn an NHL contract in just two years time, the possibilities are endless.

Next: Breaking Down the Power Play

Marchment’s signing provides yet another acknowledgement that not only does this system work, it’s thriving as well.