Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Marlies to Watch Heading Into the New Year
With many injuries to the Toronto Maple Leafs roster this season they have had to call up multiple players from the AHL to fill their line-up.
Bobby McMann and William Lagesson are among some of the players who started this season in the AHL but over the past 2 months have been playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs while filling in for injured players like Timothy Liljegren, Jake McCabe, Mark Giordano and Ryan Reaves.
Despite depleting the Toronto Marlies roster, the Marlies sit third in the North Division with a 13-10-3-1 record. (At the time of this writing).
With the subtraction of Robertson and McMann up front and the loss of Lagesson on the back end, the Marlies have had many players step up and fill their roles; three of which have stood out among the rest and could make an impact on the Maple Leafs roster.
Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Marlies to Watch Heading Into the New Year
3. Alex Steeves (Forward)
Alex Steeves was signed by the Maple Leafs in the spring of 2021 after having an incredible college campaign and being ranked among the most sought-after College free agents.
Since then Steeves has played most of his three seasons with the Toronto Marlies but has played six games in the NHL while with the organization.
Steeves scored 97 points in 128 games in his first two seasons with the Marlies and is over a point per game so far this year, playing a top-line role. Although not the quickest player, he can create space for himself with his agility and keeps defenders guessing while in the offensive zone. He is a great passer and has a nose for the net.
His defensive game at times can be lacking but over the last three seasons, he has become a lot more sound in his own zone. Steeves would be a a great fit on the Maple Leafs third line if one of Jarnkrok or Robertson were to get injured.
3 Marlies to Watch Heading Into the New Year
2. Dennis Hildeby (Goalie)
Everyone knows that the Toronto Maple Leafs have goaltending issues at the moment.
With Joseph Woll hurt for the foreseeable future and Ilya Samsonov being put on waivers, Martin Jones has been the go-to guy as of late.
Jones' play has been a coin flip through his first 7 appearances with the Leafs. The team cannot hope to go forward with Jones, because he's been a bad NHL goalie for almost five seasons now.
He has been unable to steal games for the Maple Leafs - like Woll was - but has performed above expectation posting a .914 SV%, 2.85 GAA and a 3.4 goals saved above expected. Those are good stats, but keep in mind, the sample size is extremely small.
Despite these solid stats, Keefe was still starting Samsonov every other game - who is currently the worst active goalie in the league - which is why Hildeby should be called up to split games with Jones, or depending on how he does, possibly be the starter until Woll is back.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 Entry Draft, Hildeby has taken over the starting job with the Marlies ever since the departure of Martin Jones. In 14 games with the Marlies, he has a 7-5-2 with a .920 SV% and 2.15 GAA. Hildeby is described as a poised goaltender with great lateral movement and is dynamic in the net.
With the way the Leafs goalies are playing right now, their is no harm in giving Hildeby a shot in the NHL.
1. Kieffer Bellows (Forward)
Kieffer Bellows was taken 19th overall in the 2016 draft by the New York Islanders.
Since then he has split time between the AHL and NHL on both the Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. The Toronto Marlies signed him to a PTO earlier in the season and after a great first impression he earned himself a AHL contract.
In 20 games with the Marlies this season he has 20 points (11 goals, 9 assists), playing a significant role in the teams success.
Bellows is your stereo-typical power forward. He is hard on the forecheck, has a knack for the front of the net and has a powerful shot.
What has stopped Bellows from being an everyday NHLer - like his father, Brian - is his poor decision-making with and without the puck.
His best season in the NHL came in 2021-2022 with the New York Islanders where he managed 19 points in 45 games played and was never sent down to the AHL. He scored at a 35 point pace over an 82 game regular season, which is good enough to be an everyday NHLer.
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Bellows has many of the tools that the Maple Leafs would love to have on their team. A bottom 6, super physical, forechecking winger with a knack for the net and a powerful shot. If another Maple Leaf were to go down with an injury, Bellows should be the next man up.