Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Marlies to Watch Heading Into the New Year

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.

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.