The Toronto Maple Leafs require some help in their bottom six. Although they are likely to seek help from outside the organization before the NHL trade deadline on March 7th, they already have a few candidates within their system.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the AHL's leading goal scorer Alex Steeves in their system playing for the Toronto Marlies. Steeves leads the AHL with 25 goals and is fourth in the AHL for points with 40. You would think that having a season like that would warrant a callup to the NHL.
(Stats from eliteprospects.com)
When the Leafs return to action on February 22nd after the Four Nations Face-Off, they should call Steeves up to the NHL and give him a decent amount of playing time. In the past, Steeves has never been given adequate playing time. He could be just what the Leafs third line needs to start producing more often.
Steeves needs to be given a chance to play at least 10-12 minutes a game for a minimum of 10 games at the NHL level to confirm if he's ready or not. I've seen Steeves play a few times this season, and he looks ready. A third line of Steeves with Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson could turn out to be something incredible to watch.
Toronto Maple Leafs Should Value Their Assets
There is no reason why the Leafs should spend at the trade deadline in areas they don't need to. Steeves is having a great season for the Marlies and deserves to be called up. He is also a Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season, so why not try to utilize all that he can provide, while you have him?
For those that don't know, a player whose contract ends with restricted free agent (RFA) status becomes a Group 6 UFA when certain conditions are met. The player must be 25 years old at the end of his current contract, play fewer than 80 NHL games, and has been playing in a professional league (NHL, AHL, ECHL, or in a European professional league for three or more seasons. Steeves meets all these conditions.
(Group 6 UFA conditions from puckpedia.com)
During his time in the Leafs organization, Steeves has always produced well in the AHL, but at the NHL level, the Leafs have never given him more than four games a season. He registered 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points in 65 AHL games last season, while only playing in one game for the Leafs. He's had four games with the Leafs this season, but hopefully, he'll receive more.