Toronto Maple Leafs: Marlies Forward Sleepers Part Two

As a number of graduates brace themselves to join the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, the Toronto Marlies prepare to ice a markedly different lineup.

A different lineup brings forth new responsibilities, with these new responsibilities opening the door for higher production from those who receive them. Yesterday was part one in identifying the under-the-radar Marlies who I believe will benefit the most from their new roles.

Today is part two. Enjoy.

Pierre Engvall

Aside from being the most handsome person in the entire Leafs organization (link to his Instagram is right here), Pierre Engvall is yet another example of later-draft success.

The Leafs nabbed Engvall in 2013 in the 7th round, a year removed from doing the same for another talented yet underdeveloped Swede by the name of Andreas Johnsson.

Like most later-round picks, Engvall was raw. Like, noticeably raw. Measuring in at a towering 6’5, he certainly didn’t lack size, yet his on-ice performance mostly resembled a baby giraffe struggling to walk rather than a blue-chip prospect.

Engvall was in desperate need of cohesion, particularly in the form of guidance to harness his skills into a well oiled and functioning machine. Don’t get me wrong, he still has a ways to go.

Nevertheless, Engvall’s first full campaign in North America was as a definitive step forward.

It didn’t always look that way, though.

Playing for the SHL’s HV71 in early October, Engvall found himself on the receiving end of a hit which fractured his clavicle, casting the remainder of his season in serious doubt. 2017-18 also served as the final year the Leafs held Engvall’s rights, and a lost season would certainly force the organization into cutting him loose.

Well, not only did Engvall beat his recovery timeline and return to action in January, he then proceeded to rack up 20 points in 31 games down the stretch, as a rookie.

That, my friends, is impressive.

After HV71 reached the postseason and bowed out in the first round, Engvall joined the Marlies on a PTO on March 18th, picking up right where he left off. He managed 8 points across the season’s final 9 games, generally being deployed as a power play weapon atop the circles.

Such production is impressive, but Engvall’s true progression took shape in the playoffs.

Forced onto a line with Frederik Gauthier and Colin Greening, the trio comprised the Marlies’ shutdown unit, a truly foreign circumstance for the offensively-minded Engvall.

Still, Engvall only began looking more comfortable as the playoffs progressed and, come round three, was routinely neutralizing opponents while building upon his two-way game in the process.

Oh, and if you thought this defensively-focused role stopped Engvall from scoring, think again.

With Johnsson and Ben Smith departing in the offseason, top line minutes sit ripe for the picking, with Engvall as consensus choice to acquire them.

The playoffs saw him prove capable of producing at even strength while displaying a new-found versatility which should lend Sheldon Keefe the peace of mind to confidently deploy his new Swedish weapon in a myriad of situations.

Aside from Carl Grundstrom, Engvall may be in line for the biggest uptick in minutes of any Marlie. Fans should be very excited to see what he can do with them.

Trevor Moore

What did you expect?

My love for Trevor Moore isn’t a secret. In fact, it’s probably all I’m known for this point. If I died tomorrow, my obituary would simply read, “Here Lies Mike Stephens, The Trevor Moore Guy”.

Honestly, that’s fine by me.

Moore struggled to put up points during the regular season, finishing with just 33 in 68 games. Still, this lack of offensive success didn’t quell Moore’s willingness to fulfil any role his team asked of him, regardless of personal impact.

Whether he was riding a 5-game point streak or was snake bitten for 10, Moore failed to surrender an insistence for doggedly hounding the puck, forcing possession up the ice and rarely if ever, getting caught out of position.

Doing so revealed a level of maturity in Moore highly coveted by most GM’s.

The urge to pad stats in lieu of defensive responsibility isn’t easy for those in Moore’s position to resist. Turning 23 in March, he was rapidly approaching the “poop or get off the pot” phase of his development curve, having little offence to show for it.

Rather than cheating his way into a box score presence, Moore instead opted for trusting the process, doubling down on his belief that hard work and versatility would eventually pay off.

And pay off it did.

Andreas Johnsson may have won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy for AHL playoff MVP, but Moore finished a close second. His 17 points in 20 postseason games landed him fourth on the league-wide leaderboard and second on his team, only to Johnsson.

Simply put, Moore was a revelation, an invaluable contributor to the first Calder Cup in Marlies franchise history.

There may be no better example of his progression than the goal below.

To set the scene, it’s Game Seven of the Calder Cup Final as the clock slowly ticks down the first period. The Marlies, thanks to a diving effort from Johnsson, hold a one-goal lead which they’ll likely carry into the break.

Moore has other ideas, however, collecting the puck in his own zone and immediately barreling up the ice. He completes a clean offensive zone entry and drops it to Chris Mueller, who then fires it right back over to Moore on the half wall.

Three Texas defenders litter his path, each leaving him little room to operate with. Rather than firing off a low-percentage shot and relenting possession, Moore ever so subtly fakes toward the net, tricking one defender into over-committing and, in the process, taking him completely out of the play.

With a clear path now in sight, Moore spies Marchment sneaking into the high slot and, in one fluid motion, feeds him the puck directly on the tape.

One-timer, goal, boom.

It took the puck 10 seconds to travel from the Marlies zone and into the opposing net. Moore had it on his stick for 9.

In a dramatic shift between now and this past April, Moore will enter Leafs camp holding a legitimate shot at NHL employment. Fourth line options in Tyler Ennis, Josh Leivo (lol) and Josh Jooris will all need to be bypassed to achieve that, which puts Moore back on the Marlies for the season’s beginning.

If that ends up being the case, his versatility and increased stature are poised to finally trigger the regular season breakout Moore has long been destined for.

I said it in September and I’ll say it again; don’t sleep on Trevor Moore.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for part three.