Next Season is Up in the Air for the Toronto Marlies

The hype for the Toronto Maple Leafs is well deserved, but after winning the Calder Cup, what becomes of the AHL’s best team?

Last year’s Toronto Marlies team was a powerhouse in the AHL. The experience of veterans paired with the skill of their young stars carried them to a Calder Cup championship. This will go a long way in helping the Toronto Maple Leafs in the future, starting this season.

The team, however, may not stay intact come next season. Veterans don’t always stay and young players may earn their chances with the big club.

So how will the Marlies stack up next season, and who will remain in the lineup?

Forwards

Over the past few seasons, the Marlies have lost significant pieces during the season after being called up by the Leafs. William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, and Andreas Johnsson are among them.

Next season will likely be no exception. Carl Grundström is already in the conversation to start the year with the Leafs. I personally believe he’ll get the Travis Dermott treatment and make his debut during the second half of the season, but training camp may paint a clearer picture. A successful camp could see him draw into the lineup early on, some argue even opening night. Posed to take a centre stage role next year, he’s sure to be among the team’s top scorers if he remains in the AHL.

Trevor Moore had a fantastic second half and playoff run with the Marlies and is also in the conversation to make his NHL debut. Though barring a remarkable camp, it will almost certainly be towards the end.

There’s potential for the forward core to take a hit, it’s just a matter of who and when.

That being said, this is purely speculation. On the other hand, some notable forwards won’t be returning. Ben Smith, as rumoured part way through the season, signed with the DEL’s Adler Mannheim. With 59 points in 73 games and serving as team captain, this may very well be a big blow.

In an organization lacking centre depth, Miro Aaltonen’s decision to sign in the KHL may take some steam out of the offense as well. This is where Josh Jooris will have to come in.

Being promoted will be Andreas Johnnson. As one of the league leaders in both goals and assists throughout his time in the AHL, his production will need to be replaced. Grundström and Moore will help, but I doubt either will match his individual totals. The Calder Cup Playoffs MVP registered 54 points in as many games and 24 points in just 16 playoff games. He’s a lock to be in the Leafs’ lineup.

The rest of the offense will be up to the likes of Pierre Engvall, Jeremey Bracco, and new additions like Adam Cracknell. Their performances aren’t guaranteed though. Engvall has little AHL experience and his regular season totals are, realistically, unsustainable. Bracco started to heat up towards the end of the year and will take on a bigger role, but likely will take some time to reach his full potential. Cracknell posted impressive totals which should translate as he moves to a stronger team, but nothing is certain.

Defense

Travis Dermott’s absence was noticed last year after his call up. Thankfully players like Martin Marinčin and Calle Rosén were able to up their performance to keep the Marlies defense stable. Andreas Borgman didn’t seem himself in the AHL. He did go through injury trouble but he never quite found his footing. He may challenge for an NHL roster spot, but if not, there has been speculation that himself and Calle Rosén may opt to return to Sweden.

Timothy Liljegren is likely to be back and with a year of experience, should step into a more prominent role. He’s still young, however, and his performance isn’t set in stone.

The addition of Jordan Subban should help to stabilize the blue line, but he’s still very much a question mark in terms of role and where he may fit into the lineup.

Goaltending

Garrett Sparks will not be with the Marlies next year. Whether he finds himself to be the Leafs’ backup, or in a new organization all together, his one-way contract and stellar performance will see him elsewhere.

Calvin Pickard was qualified but may also be on the trading block. It’s unlikely, though, that he’ll  be dealt as the team would be left lacking goaltending. Curtis McElhinney is unlikely to clear waivers, but in the event he does, should be acceptable behind Pickard. Kasimir Kaskisuo also put up respectable numbers and may take on a role with the team.

So while there are some uncertainties, goaltending is one thing that shouldn’t be a concern.

Next: How Many Goals Will Auston Matthews Score?

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Marlies lineup may look very different next season. They’ll also have some new faces.

Though their lineup won’t be completely diminished, some players may not stick around, be it over the summer or throughout the season. They still have potential to be a great team, but it all depends on some question marks going the right way.

Stats courtesy of HockeyDB