The Toronto Marlies went 1-0-1 over the weekend with a 4-3 win and a subsequent 5-4 overtime loss to the Charlotte Checkers, AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, and while the results aren’t something people should put too much stock into, the new line of Nikita Grebenkin, Fraser Minten, and Alex Steeves is. Minten is viewed by the organization as somebody who could potentially be a middle-six centre with top-six upside down the line, Steeves has routinely torched the AHL for going on four years now, and Grebenkin wasted no time winning fans over in his move to North America, dropping the gloves in his first preseason game as a Leaf and hitting the ground running with the Marlies when he got there.
Minten was forced to miss the entirety of preseason after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Montreal Canadiens during the prospect showdown in early September and was just recently cleared to return. He suited up for the Marlies for his first two AHL games this weekend and tallied an assist in each game for two points in two games on the season. He’s been skating alongside Steeves and Grebenkin, the former of whom scored twice and added two assists in Sunday’s contest and the latter of whom has nine points in his first ten AHL games as a 21-year-old. Those three players combined for 11 points in this weekend’s games, surely giving the Maple Leafs an impossible decision to make when the time comes to call a forward up from the AHL in the event of an injury.
#LeafsForever prospects Nikita Grebyonkin (#71) and Alex Steeves (#46) connect for the go-ahead powerplay goal.
Greb is up to 7 points in 9 AHL games. pic.twitter.com/23MEy5yve6
— More like Nikita GREATbyonkin (@brigstew86) November 9, 2024
On one hand, Steeves probably deserves the nod more than the other two solely because he’s done more than enough to prove he’s capable of playing in the NHL. He finished each of his first three games scoring at almost a point-per-game pace and is on track to set more career highs this season, with nine goals and 12 points in ten AHL games so far this season. On the other hand, Grebenkin is quickly emerging as a future piece the Leafs deem to be quite valuable, and with how quickly he’s progressed since the Maple Leafs selected him in the fifth round two years ago, he’s earned a look in the big league sooner rather than later. He was one of the last forwards to be cut this year and was invited to the Maple Leafs’ team-bonding trip in Bracebridge, so it’s clear the team plans to factor him into their decisions eventually. In all likelihood, Minten is probably third in the pecking order to get a call-up out of these three, but he’s evidently a part of their future too.
One way or another, this line will be one worth keeping tabs on this season. Even if none of these three players play significant time in the NHL this season, you can make an argument for each player playing a significant part in the Maple Leafs’ plans moving forward, so it will be interesting to watch them gain chemistry together and see who comes out on top as the first to get a look with the Maple Leafs this season.
Notes from the rest of the prospect pool:
- At this point, we can probably just have a weekly series dedicated to Easton Cowan and whether or not his regular-season point-scoring streak is still alive. To the surprise of few, this week’s answer is once again ‘yes’. It was a little too close to comfort this week, with the point in his 49th-straight game coming in the form of an empty net goal to close out an 8-6 win over the OHL’s Guelph Storm, but all points look the same on the scoresheet. It’s another impressive offensive start to the season for Cowan, who doesn’t have much left to learn in the AHL, with ten goals and 17 points in 13 games.
THE STREAK IS ALIVE!#LeafsForever prospect Easton Cowan, with 22 seconds left in the game, scores on the empty net to extend his regular season point streak at 49 games. pic.twitter.com/CB9h9mc4r0
— More like Nikita GREATbyonkin (@brigstew86) November 10, 2024
- 2024 fifth-round pick Miroslav Holinka isn’t displaying any sort of growing pains at all in his first season overseas from his homeland. The Czechia-born forward has ten goals and 17 points in 15 games for the Western Hockey League (WHL)’s Edmonton Oil Kings and is riding a six-game point streak with two goals and two assists in the Oil Kings’ two games this past weekend. He’s a ways away from ever being close to a Maple Leafs uniform, but a smooth transition to North American ice is the second step to making that happen, the first being a selection at the draft.
Miroslav Holinka scored a goal and an assist in a 4-3 loss against Swift Current on Saturday.
Holinka has points in his last six games and 10 of his last 11.
Totals (WHL): 15 GP, 10 G, 17 PTS, +7, 35 SOG, 54.2% FOW#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/jkoxWE8ykQ
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 10, 2024
- Speaking of players on hot streaks, how about 2024 seventh-round pick Sam McCue? The brother of San Jose Sharks prospect and former London Knight Max McCue was a man on a mission for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)’s Owen Sound Attack this week, lighting the lamp four times and adding an assist in three games including the overtime-winner on Saturday against the Kitchener Rangers. The 6-foot-2 19-year-old is up to ten goals and 16 points in 16 games on the season.
The Attack win in overtime with a goal from Sam McCue!!! pic.twitter.com/9rVqV0Zx0M
— Owen Sound Attack (@AttackOHL) November 10, 2024
- Prospect defenceman Noah Chadwick and the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes exploded offensively last week, with Chadwick contributing to four of their 17 goals in three games. The 6-foot-4 seventh-round pick is up to 14 points in 15 games on the season and continues to emerge as one of the team’s top defensive prospects. He was initially drafted for his combined strong defensive skills and puck-moving abilities despite low offensive totals in his draft year, but he took a huge step last season and seems to be trending in the right direction once again. There’s no question that he’ll have a spot on the Marlies’ back end reserved for him come next season, unless he’s traded for roster upgrades, but it doesn’t feel like the team views him as a trade chip.
Noah Chadwick scored a goal and an assist in a 7-3 win against Moose Jaw on Friday. He was a whopping plus-5.
Totals (WHL): 14 GP, 3 G, 14 PTS, 36 SOG#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/eMqQilf02L
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 9, 2024
- Defenceman John Fusco, drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft, is somebody to keep an eye on this season. Despite steady improvement in each season with Dartmouth College throughout his NCAA career, the 5-foot-10 right-handed blueliner is yet to earn a contract. This season, however, he has four points in his first four games as Dartmouth begins the season undefeated at 4-0-0. Something to watch for the rest of the season from a prospect standpoint.
John Fusco scored the game-winner Friday against Quinnipiac and added an assist Saturday vs. Princeton.
Dartmouth is 4-0-0 for the first time since 1957. Huge start for the Big Green.
Totals (NCAA): 4 GP, 2 G, 4 PTS, 11 SOG#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/HDMEw3PWRw
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 10, 2024
- To close out this week’s look across the pool, we’ll circle back to the 2024 NHL Draft and focus on defenceman Ben Danford. After a quiet start to the season offensively, the Generals’ captain is up to six points in 14 games on the season after scoring a goal against the Peterborough Petes in a 4-3 overtime win last Tuesday. It’s not surprising that he’s taken a bit to get going after suffering a concussion in development camp, and a slow start offensively shouldn’t take away from the strongsuits to his game.
