John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the deepest teams in the NHL this season – and that depth extends to their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
After Leafs GM Brad Treliving called up center Alex Steeves on Monday on an emergency basis, Toronto fans will see one of the promising youngsters the team has invested in at the AHL level.
That is if the Leafs play Steeves. He’s not expected to dress on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, according to The Hockey News’ David Alter. But the Maple Leafs really should give him a shot.
The 24-year-old Steeves currently leads the Marlies in goals (nine) and points (12), and he’s also tied for third in the AHL for goal-scoring. Steeves’ current scoring pace would be more than enough to demolish his career-best AHL total of 27 goals, which he set last season.
Like many young Leafs prospects, Steeves must produce in the Maple Leafs’ bottom-six group of forwards, but he’s already shown he can thrive in the AHL. He deserves an honest shot at proving he’s an NHL-level talent while Max Pacioretty and Auston Matthews are injured.
That said, Steeves isn’t the only Leafs prospect likely to get a stint in the NHL this season. Other current Marlies who could be recalled at some point this year include right winger Alex Nylander (five goals, eight points), left winger Nikita Grebenkin (three goals, nine points) and left winger Nick Abruzzese (two goals, four points).
Goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby has already appeared in two games for the Leafs while Joseph Woll was out. While consistency was an issue for him, Hildeby should remain the go-to call-up if Stolarz or Woll are injured. In two AHL games this season, he has a 1.93 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.
The Leafs have successfully developed talent to perform at the NHL level in recent years. Just ask left winger Bobby McMann. While this year’s group of Toronto prospects will have a tough time cracking through the depth of the Leafs roster to earn an NHL spot, they will likely get an opportunity to make a name for themselves in the NHL.
To be sure, if Leafs left wingers Pontus Holmberg and Nick Robertson can stick in the NHL lineup despite producing just one point each in 14 games, the Leafs’ other prospects, Steeves included, deserve a chance to bump him out of the regular rotation and carve out a spot for themselves over the long term.
The NHL is a zero-sum business. If you’re not producing in one regard or another, there will always be someone younger and cheaper who wants to step in and take your job. Steeves is one of those younger, cheaper talents, and this could be one of his better chances at nailing down an NHL job. If he can’t get the job done and heads back to the Marlies for the long term, the other Leafs prospects will be more than happy to step in and do their damnedest never to see another AHL game again.
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Related: In Matthews’ Absence, Nylander Is Establishing Himself As Maple Leafs’ Most Dynamic Player
