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Toronto Maple Leafs: What You Need to Know for the Marlies Season

By Kyle Cushman

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 08: Head coach of the Toronto Marlies Sheldon Keefe looks on from behind the bench against the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on March 8, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Marlies defeated the Laval Rocket 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - MARCH 08: Head coach of the Toronto Marlies Sheldon Keefe looks on from behind the bench against the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on March 8, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Marlies defeated the Laval Rocket 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Exciting New Additions

While Bracco, Woll, and even Elynuik are players to watch because of their potential NHL futures, the Marlies have added some serious talent to this team that will keep them very competitive.

Kalle Kossila

With first-line center Chris Mueller out the door, the Marlies have an opening on their top line that looks to be filled by the fascinating Kalle Kossila.

Though injured to start the season, Kossila is a player that has always caught my attention since signing with the Anaheim Ducks in 2016. Kossila’s collegiate numbers were excellent and his AHL scoring has steadily been atop the charts in San Diego, but he has yet to receive an extended look in the NHL.

Kossila was one of the depth free agents to sign a two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason. With the second year in hand, Kossila has the talent to not only take over for the most productive Toronto Marlie last year in Mueller but push for an NHL job over the course of this season and next.

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Just check out those transition metrics from Mitch Brown. Kossila has Sheldon Keefe center written all over him.

Teemu Kivihalme

I debated putting Kivihalme in the “Players to Watch” category, but due to his age fit better in the exciting new additions. After a solid preseason with the Leafs, Kivihalme projects to pair with Timothy Liljegren on the Marlies top pairing.

Signed out of Finland, Kivihalme has looked like Calle Rosen 2.0. In his time with the Marlies, Rosen was known for two things: his development into a premier AHL defender and the insane amount of shots he took.

Time will obviously tell how Kivihalme progresses in the AHL, but my goodness does he ever like to shoot. Last season in the Finnish Liiga, Kivihalme was third in shots on goal among defencemen, behind only league MVP Oliwer Kaski and Ilkka Heikkinen. His tendency to shoot was evident throughout the Leafs rookie tournament and I would imagine we’ll see him directly take over for Rosen, at least 5v5.

A good season could also see Kivihalme put himself into the conversation for third pair minutes as the season progresses and into next season.

Jesper Lindgren

Another defenceman making the jump from the Finnish Liiga, Jesper Lindgren is a player I’ve been high on for a while.

His underlying metrics out of Finland were excellent and given opportunity this season with the Marlies, Lindgren will look to climb prospect rankings as he adjusts to his first full season in North America. Check out my article on him from last year for a more in-depth look into his numbers from Finland and why he’s one of the most underrated prospects in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.

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