With players returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with Anthony Stolarz going on the Injured Reserve the Toronto Marlies have dealt with a constant change in roster lately and have managed it smoothly.
With the recent call-up of Matt Murray back to the Toronto Maple Leafs, goaltending prospect Vyacheslav Peksa was recalled from Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. The franchise moved their ECHL affiliate this past off-season from Newfoundland to Ohio and the transition has not been smooth as they currently sit in last place in the entire league. The Maple Leafs 2021 sixth round selection had a 1-7-2 record with a 3.35 GAA and .861 save percentage prior to the recall.
Marlies extended captain Logan Shaw to a two-year contract extension on Friday that kicks in next season. Shaw joined the Maple Leafs organization prior to the 2022-23 season when he signed a three-year American Hockey League contract. Similar to Alex Nylander earlier this season, Shaw is unable to be called up to the big club until he signs a NHL contract.
The now 32-year old has served as captain since joining the Marlies in his first season and has now played in 162 games with the club registering 55 goals and 145 points during his tenure. He currently sits third on the team in scoring trailing Alex Steeves and Alex Nylander.
Prior to joining the Marlies, Shaw was a third round selection of the Florida Panthers in 2011 and had played in 232 NHL games collecting 16 goals and 39 points split between the Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators. He has not played in an NHL game since 2021-22 when he appeared in 17 games collecting three points with the Ottawa Senators.
Marlies have up and down week
The Marlies had three games this past week which was highlighted by Matt Murray recording his first shutout of the season against his former club the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The game also saw Steeves score his team leading 15th goal of the season and Fraser Minten collect a goal in his return to the club after playing with the big club. Murray was recalled after the game to the Maple Leafs when he made his first NHL appearance in over a year and a half.
Friday night, the Marlies had the complete opposite defensive play as they surrendered seven goals in a 7-2 loss that saw Artur Akhtyamov get chased after the second period, surrendering five goals on 25 shots. Peksa would make his AHL debut and surrendered two goals on nine shots.
Saturday night the club bounced back handing the Hershey Bears a 7-3 defeat thanks to Cedric Pare having a four-point game and nearly doubling his season total to nine.
The Marlies currently sit in third place in the North Division, just two points back of the leading Cleveland Monsters, however the Marlies have a pair of games in hand. Toronto will now be off until after Christmas when they play home and home series with the Belleville Senators starting with an afternoon game on Boxing Day.