Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 5 Marlies Players to Keep Your Eye On
Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 5 Marlies Players to Keep Your Eye On
Ty Voit
Ty Voit has been rising through the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect rankings since they drafted him with the 153rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL entry draft.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Voit did not play during the 2020-21 season.
The Leafs had to use his 2019-20 stats to evaluate him.
During the 2019-20 OHL season, Voit registered eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points in 49 games. Although those numbers are not terrible, they didn’t jump off the page either.
Easy to see why he was still available in the fifth round.
(All stats from eliteprospects.com)
Now, jump ahead to the season after he got drafted.
Voit registered 26 goals and 54 assists for 80 points in 67 games. He also registered six points in six playoff games for the Sarnia Sting that season.
Voit followed that up with an incredible 2022-23 season with 24 goals and 81 assists for 105 points in 67 games. He also recorded 16 points in 16 playoff games.
The 2023-24 season will be Voit’s first season in the AHL.
It will be interesting to see how he adapts to playing at the pro level. As much as he wants to impress Toronto Maple Leafs management, it’s more important for him to concentrate on his development.
I don’t expect him to be the Marlies top points producer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is. Fans will surely enjoy his playmaking abilities.
Bobby McMann
Bobby McMann is on the cusp of being an NHL regular.
He will be at training camp looking to make the Toronto Maple Leafs roster for opening night.
He played in ten games for the Leafs last season and got a small taste of what it’s like playing in the NHL.
McMann registered 21 goals and eight assists for 29 points in 30 games with the Marlies last season.
He’ll look to improve on those numbers and become a more balanced player this season.
For the benefit of his development, it might be best if he does start the season with the Marlies and get lots of playing time.
If he can stay healthy, McMann will try to return to his 2021-22 season numbers when he registered 24 goals and 11 assists for 35 points in 61 games for the Marlies.
Numbers like that will earn him some playing time in the NHL at some point this season. For now, McMann is a depth option for the Toronto Maple Leafs and would be used on the third or fourth line if he gets called up.
McMann is 27 years old, so what you see is pretty much what you get.
He is in the final year of his current contract, so hopefully, that will motivate him to play his best hockey. If he does, the Marlies and Leafs could reap the rewards.
Topi Niemela
Topi Niemela is considered to be the Toronto Maple Leafs top defense prospect.
It is unlikely that he will start the season in the NHL, but it won’t be long before he gets there.
Last season, Niemela joined the Marlies once his season with Karpat in Liiga was complete.
He registered eight goals and ten assists for 18 points in 58 games with Karpat last season and recorded two points in six games with the Marlies.
He also registered five points in six AHL playoff games and did not look out of place.
Niemela will get a lot of playing time on the Marlies’ top defense pairing and should see playing time in all situations.
He will be on the Leafs short list of defense call-ups should there be an injury at the NHL level. If he is called up at some point this season, expect him to play on the third pairing. Doing so will protect him as best as possible while he adapts to the NHL.
It’s hard to predict how well he will do points-wise in the AHL, but if I had to guess, I would say Niemela should be able to reach 20-30 points this season.
How he plays on the power play and penalty kill will be worth watching. He is only 21 years old and still developing, so it is best not to rush him.
Even if he plays in the AHL all season and challenges for an NHL spot next season. He is an important part of the Toronto Maple Leafs future.
Joseph Blandisi
Joseph Blandisi has become a fan favorite since joining the Toronto Marlies in 2021.
He registered 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 61 games for the Marlies last season and seven points in seven playoff games.
The 29-year-old from Markham, Ontario, does have 101 NHL games to his credit but is likely to spend the rest of his pro career in the AHL.
Playing in Toronto and being close to family and friends is likely why he re-signed a one-year AHL deal this off-season.
After a decent 2022-23 season, it’s fair to assume that Blandisi will get plenty of ice time this season. Hopefully, he can improve upon last season’s point totals and be a top contributor for the Marlies. It would be nice to see if he can achieve 20 goals and 50 points.
He has yet to do it at the pro level, but during the 20214-15 season, Blandisi was a scoring machine for the Barrie Colts in the OHL. He registered 52 goals and 60 assists for 112 points that season.
If he earns enough ice time, including time on the power play, maybe this will be his breakout season. With a new head coach and new assistant coaches, it will be interesting to see where they feel Blandisi fits in best.
I would like to see him get some time on the first line to showcase what he’s got.
Keith Petruzzelli
With the Toronto Maple Leafs starting the 2023-24 NHL season with goaltender Matt Murray on LTIR, Joseph Woll will be their backup goaltender behind Ilya Samsonov.
This leaves the Toronto Marlies’ starting goaltender job open for Keith Petruzzelli to claim.
Petruzzelli has bounced around the AHL and ECHL since joining the Marlies in the 2021-22 season. Last season he posted a 13-8-2 record in 25 AHL appearances.
He finished the season with a 2.90 GAA and a .909 SV%. With Woll playing up with the Leafs during the NHL playoffs, Petruzzelli was the Marlies’ goaltender for the 2023 AHL Calder Cup playoffs. He only played three of the Marlies’ seven playoff games due to a horrible 5.31 GAA and a .829 SV%.
The 24-year-old has a chance this season to put the Marlies on his back and help try to capture the Calder Cup. He will need to be better than last season.
Hopefully, with more games, he can build better momentum. For most goaltenders, repetition is critical. The more they play, the better they play. Fans will be hoping this is the case for Petruzzelli.
As the Marlies’ starting goaltender, he will have a lot of weight on his shoulders. Hopefully, he is capable of carrying it and having the best AHL season of his career.
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As talented as the Marlies are, if they don’t get good goaltending, they won’t go far. The time appears to be now for Petruzzelli, so let’s hope he captures it.