Alex Steeves set the Toronto Marlies’ all-time franchise record for points over the weekend, which is a big accomplishment, yet is one that no professional hockey player hopes to achieve.
With his 169th career point on Saturday, Alex Steeves passed (you guessed it!) Kris Newbury for the Toronto Marlies all-time point record. Setting the record for most points of an AHL team is flattering, yet dissapointing because it means you haven't been given your chance yet.
The funny thing about Steeves breaking the Marlies record is that he's only 24-years-old. After playing four years in the NCAA, Steeves has been incredibly consistent in the AHL, but hasn't been rewarded for those services. He's only played 11 games with the Leafs, and only tallied one assist..
After registering 27 goals and 57 points in 65 AHL games last year, it felt like an NHL roster spot was inevitable for Steeves. A left-handed centre, Steeves would fit the team's needs, as they could not only use more centre-depth, but they could also use help at left-wing.
The Leafs could instantly improve by playing Steeves instead of Ryan Reaves, and if given a chance, there's reason to believe he could be better than Dewar, Lorentz or even Max Domi who no longer seems to score, and who contributes nothing otherwise.
Alex Steeves deserves a full-time role at the NHL level
At 24-years-old, Steeves still has a lot to offer and breaking the Marlies record shouldn't be a curse, quite yet. There are plenty of players who have emerged into everyday NHLers at this point in their career, if not later, and there's no reason to believe that Steeves can't be that next late-bloomer.
Michael Bunting played six seasons in the AHL before being given a real NHL opportunity and didn't look back once he was put in that role. I'm not saying that Steeves is the next Bunting, but his unbelievable goal-scoring ability at the AHL-level should translate to the NHL-level soon enough.
After scoring 27 goals last year, Steeves has followed it up with 12 goals in 12 games this year and has been the Marlies best player. He deserves an opportunity to be called up, and to play regularly.
After breaking the Marlies record last weekend, the Leafs owe it to Steeves to call him up, but if they don't want to do that, they should look to trade him and give him a chance in a new market.
Based on the Leafs history, Steeves will probably turn into the next Mason Marchment as the "one who got away," but we'll see how that enfolds. For the meantime, kudos to Steeves on a great professional career, but hopefully that professional career translates to the NHL sometime soon.