Toronto Maple Leafs: What You Need to Know for the Marlies Season
Players to Watch
There are plenty of players to key in on for this season with the number of new names in the lineup, but it’s one of the returning players that offer the most intrigue to me.
Jeremy Bracco
Jeremy Bracco’s team-leading 79 points were not enough to get him onto the NHL squad. It’s eye-opening when Trevor Moore (0.85 PPG) and Dmytro Timashov (0.68 PPG) make the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Marlies reigning leading scorer.
For Bracco, the 2019-20 season is all about his 5v5 play and defensive capabilities. We all know Bracco is an incredible powerplay specialist, but he offers little value to the Toronto Maple Leafs if he doesn’t round out his game elsewhere. Simply put, Bracco is often a neutral presence at 5v5 due to his defensive deficiencies. This season is make or break in the Leafs organization, as without a first-round pick, Bracco could easily be dealt for an upgrade on the big club if the Leafs feel he isn’t developing to a standard that will help them in 2020-21.
Joseph Woll
A new name to keep an eye on is in net, with third-round pick Joseph Woll. Woll begins the season as Kasimir Kakisuo’s backup but will likely split starts with the Finnish netminder. Coming out of Boston College, Woll ranks as the top prospect joining the Marlies this season and a big year could boost his stock exponentially.
At 21 years of age, the hope is one of Woll or Ian Scott will develop into an NHL goaltender by the time Frederik Andersen‘s contract expires before 2021-22. That begins this season, with both turning pro and battling for minutes.
To start the season, Scott is injured and Woll has the opportunity to grab the job and run with it. Despite Kaskisuo’s fantastic playoff run where he posted a .927 save percentage, he still faltered heavily in the regular season. Kaskisuo’s job as the Marlies number one option is far from set in stone and Woll has the talent to steal the gig.
His collegiate numbers may not be gaudy, but Woll has been one of the most consistent goaltenders in the NCAA over the past three seasons. Last season’s stats are especially impressive, as on the worst Boston College team Woll played on, he posted his highest career save percentage.
With Toronto’s uncertain future in goal, Woll is one of the new additions to the Marlies you must keep an eye on.
Hudson Elynuik
This pick may seem off the board, but Elynuik represents much more than a flier taken on a WHL standout. Elynuik is set to become the Newfoundland Growlers first full-time graduate to the Marlies, a big step one season into the relationship the two teams have.
Check out Editor in Leaf’s recent article on Kyle Dubas’ vision for the ECHL and how the Growlers are being utilized this season to develop Toronto Maple Leafs prospects for a better look into why Elynuik is a player you should pay attention to, less for his own ability and more for what the organization is looking to do with the Growlers.
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.
Expectations
So what should we be expecting from the Toronto Marlies this season?
With the caliber of players this team possesses, there is no reason the Marlies shouldn’t be making the Calder Cup Playoffs and going deep once again.
The roster will change over the course of the season, but this year the team is set up for success more than last.
A year ago, the Marlies were abysmal in goal to start the season. Once Michael Hutchinson was acquired to solve that problem, subtractions started to occur up front. Sam Gagner was recalled by Vancouver and traded, Trevor Moore was called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carl Grundstrom was sent out the door for Jake Muzzin.
This season, goaltending remains a slight question mark, but Kaskisuo is not being thrown into the starting gig like he was a year ago when Calvin Pickard and Curtis McElhinney were both unexpectedly claimed on waivers. Up front, the Marlies are not leaning on a loanee in Gagner to provide veteran scoring. The likes of Kenny Agostino, Garrett Wilson, and Pontus Aberg, will all chip in to give the Marlies an offensive boost from last season.
Defensively, this team has a much different makeup with just one regular returning for the time being. Liljegren has proven to be a quality defender at this level and will only improve as the season goes on. Kivihalme is a bit of a wild card, but experienced defenders in Ben Harpur, Jordan Schmaltz, and Kevin Gravel will all solidify the Marlies defence.
Next. Leafs Top Ten Prospects. dark
Year in and year out, the Marlies are expected to contend. That does not change this season and the additions Kyle Dubas and Laurence Gilman have made have only strengthened the team from last year, making the Toronto Marlies once again a favourite for the Calder Cup.