Toronto Maple Leafs: Marlies Nearing A Playoff Roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs have shored up their AHL affiliate for a lengthy playoff run.

Last season, this saw move the Leafs send Travis Dermott and Kasperi Kapanen down to the Toronto Marlies on trade deadline day in a paper transaction to ensure their eligibility for the American Hockey League Playoffs.

Those transactions proved to be monumental.

While Kapanen eventually opted to join Team Finland for the World Hockey Championship instead of returning to the team he began the year with, Dermott’s arrival effectively saved the Marlies season and culminated in the Marlies’ first Calder Cup in franchise history.

This season, however, circumstances are different. No one was sent down prior to the deadline, with Trevor Moore getting the call instead to take the place of the recently-traded Par Lindholm and suit for the Leafs’ in their contest that night against divisional rival Buffalo.

Aside from the acquisition of Nicholas Baptiste from the Nashville Predators on Sunday, the only reinforcements set to join the Marlies for their playoff run will be pulled from the Newfoundland Growlers. The Marlies recalled Hudson Elynuik, Brady Ferguson, Josh Kestner and Zach O’Brien from their ECHL affiliate this afternoon in an effort to solidify their depth up front with the season’s final stretch now upon them.

The AHL has now ventured into PTO season – a time when teams begin offering tryouts to their various prospects whose NCAA or European League seasons have ended. Calling up this quartet of forwards will only factor into that, serving as internal promotions to a select few who could theoretically contribute to the Marlies as early as this season or, more likely, next.

With the deadline for AHL trades being March 4th, Laurence Gilman & Co. still have time to add to their roster before the playoffs begin. Nevertheless, the Leafs’ decision not to send anyone down prior to today’s 3 PM deadline ensures that waiver eligible players such as Justin Holl and Igor Ozhiganov will not be eligible to join the Marlies in the event that the Leafs are handed another early postseason exit this year.

There are likely still a wave of PTO and ATO recipients who will soon pass through Coca-Cola Coliseum in the coming weeks. However, barring any unforeseen breakout performances, (like Pierre Engvall‘s successful attempt to bump Kyle Baun from the lineup and establish himself on the Marlies’ checking line) the Marlies will head into playoffs with a roster that looks relatively similar to the one they boast today.

That roster, mind you, has withstood significant adversity this season. Be it the swaths of injuries, goaltending struggles, or depth depletion, Sheldon Keefe‘s squad has weathered the storm only to emerge on the other side as the AHL’s leader in goals while sitting third in the hotly contested North Division.

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