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4 Marlies that Deserve Being Called Up to the Toronto Maple Leafs

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 18: Timothy Liljegren #37 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in his 1st NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Scotiabank Arena on January 18, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blackhawks defeated the Maple Leafs 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 18: Timothy Liljegren #37 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in his 1st NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Scotiabank Arena on January 18, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blackhawks defeated the Maple Leafs 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Jan 26, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Josh Leivo (27) and Toronto Maple Leafs  Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Joey Anderson

Acquired in a trade for Andreas Johnsson last October, Anderson was probably someone many Leafs fans didn’t know much about. The former third-round draft pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft is small in stature but can put up big points on the scoresheet.

The former captain of Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championships was an exceptional player prior to get drafted, but is just coming into his own as a professional. In his first full AHL season last year, he finished with 15 goals and 34 points in 44 games played.

As mentioned prior, the 22-year-old is small. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, his skill needs to make up for his size at the NHL level, so that’s one reason why he hasn’t been immediately called up. However, in six AHL games this year, his production has been great and could be someone worth taking a look at.

Anderson already has three goals and five points and is skyrocketing himself towards the top of the Leafs prospects list.

The Leafs bottom-six is pretty tough to crack based on the experienced players that are ahead of him in the depth chart, but Anderson doesn’t have to clear waivers in order to get called up. Therefore, he could bring some additional scoring or even help out the second power-play unit.

He could probably benefit from another full year in the AHL before getting called up to the Leafs, but a short stint with the big-club could be good for his confidence and based on his salary and contract structure, he’d be easy to slide in and out of the lineup.

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