Just before their playoffs get underway, the Toronto Marlies added two players to the organization. Defenceman Jacob Bengtsson and forward Sam Stevens both inked one-year AHL contracts that will begin at the start of next season. Let’s start by looking at Bengtsson.
🖊 News: The Toronto Marlies have signed defenceman Jacob Bengtsson to a one-year AHL contract beginning in the 2024-25 season. #MarliesLive
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) April 23, 2024
Bengtsson just put the finishing touches on his NCAA career having played the last four years at the Division 1 level. He began his NCAA career with Lake Superior State University, featuring consistently and prominently for the Lakers before transferring this past season to Boston College. In 40 games he put up three goals and 11 assists and was a staple on the Eagles blueline. The soon-to-be 25-year-old is a native of Stockholm, Sweden. and has good size, standing at 6’3 and weighing ~200 pounds. He spent two years playing juniors in Sweden before making the move to North America where he suited up with the Waterloo Black Hawks for two years.
Greg Brown, Head Coach of Boston College, had high praise for Bengtsson for his performance during his senior season. His steady game brought a level of consistency, and it’s no surprise he’s earned a contract at the pro level. Here is the full quote from Greg Brown:
High praise from @CoachBrownBC on graduate defenseman Jacob Bengtsson. I’d be shocked if #15 didn’t get an NHL contract this spring. pic.twitter.com/vwRSdKjV0b
— Anthony Smith (@anthony_smith89) March 20, 2024
It seems like the Marlies are getting someone who will come in right away next season and challenge for a spot. Bengtsson will be 25 at the start of training camp and will be looking to make his mark quickly at the pro level. As mentioned before, Sam Stevens signed a contract for next year, let’s dive into a bit of his background.
🖊 News: The Toronto Marlies have signed forward Sam Stevens to a one-year AHL contract beginning in the 2024-25 season. He will join the Marlies on a ATO for the remainder of this season. #MarliesLive
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) April 18, 2024
Stevens managed to join the Marlies on the weekend, and his timing couldn’t have been better. With their playoff matchup locked in, the Marlies rested most of their key players and handed AHL debuts to five players on Sunday, including Stevens. The Montreal native also just finished up his collegiate career, playing five full seasons with Boston University. A teammate of recently signed Cade Webber, Stevens scored at just under 0.5 ppg in his final two seasons in the NCAA. Before college, the 24-year-old bounced around the USHL playing with the Chicago Steel, Des Moines Buccaneers, and Sioux Falls Stampede. He was a teammate of Marshall Rifai’s with the Buccaneers, and will certainly find some familiar faces from his time with Chicago. While a member of the Steel, Stevens was teammates with Robert Mastrosimone, Nick Abruzzese, and Matteo Pietroniro.
While neither Bengtsson nor Stevens are young prospects anymore, both will be looking to become mainstays on a crowded Marlies roster next year. Congratulations to Stevens for suiting up in his first professional game on Sunday, I look forward to watching them both in a Marlies uniform next year.
