Toronto Maple Leafs: Former Top Prospect Impressing with Marlies

A former top prospect is doing well for the Toronto Maple Leafs farm team.

It was almost two weeks ago when it was learned that the Toronto Maple Leafs were bringing in former first round pick Kieffer Bellows into the organization when they signed him to a professional tryout with the Marlies.

The former World Junior top scorer in 2018 has shown his scoring ability through five games with the Marlies where as he has collected a point each of those contests including a pair of multi point games.

Despite playing less than half the games, Bellows has jumped out to fourth on the team in scoring with four goals and three assists through five games.

Unfortunately in the current situation, Bellows would not be an option to be recalled as he does not have an NHL deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs so the two sides would have to come to an agreement.

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Doing Well

Nick Robertson was called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs four games ago and is looking like he is getting closer to securing a full time role as he has collected points in each game and has helped create an affective third line joined by Max Domi and Calle Järnkrok.

The former second round pick was one of the top players on the Marlies so with his departure other players have assumed larger roles on the team.  Alex Steeves and Nick Abruzzese are two of those players that are pushing for the next chance with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Both players have had cups of coffees in years past with the big club and want another opportunity.

Since Robertson’s recall, both players have found the scoring sheet in each of those four games.  Steeves currently leads the Marlies in points with 14 in 12 games including eight goals.  Steeves would likely be the next player to get a shot on the fourth line.  The soon to be 24-year old was a college free agent signing by Kyle Dubas in 2021 and has played six career NHL games.

Abruzzese went off this weekend with a pair of three-point games playing with Steeves and Dmitry Ovchinnikov.  Abruzzese had a slow start with just three points through his first eight games, but now sits third on the team in points.

2020 fifth round selection Ovchinnikov had a very slow start in his first full season in North America as he failed to record a point in his first four games, however that changed this weekend.  Ovchinnikov jumped out with a hattrick on Friday night, then recorded a goal and assist on Saturday night.

The last name to talk about is 6’7″ goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby.  The 22-year old Swedish goaltender picked up his first two wins with the Marlies this past week with a pair of shutouts as he turned away all 49 shots he faced.  Through four starts this year, Hildeby has stopped 95 of 100 shots.