With the conclusion of the 2025–26 season, it’s official. The Toronto Maple Leafs have missed the postseason for the first time since they finished last in the NHL standings and drafted captain Auston Matthews in 2015–16.
Maple Leafs fans from across Canada have differing opinions on the organization’s direction and the moves needed to get back to the playoffs. Some fans want whoever the incoming general manager is to make creative trades with desperate GM’s, some want them to flex their cap space on free agents like Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddysh or Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, both unlikely to hit the open market.
Instead, I’m going to outline a few players with the Toronto Marlies that could get a look going into next season!
Bo Groulx
For a Toronto Marlies team that is headed to the playoffs with a first-round matchup against Buffalo’s minor league affiliate, the Rochester Americans, Bo Groulx was one of the team’s most impactful players this past season, with 28 goals and 52 points in 59 games.
Maple Leaf fans might know Groulx better from his 13-game stint with the big club after the team moved on from the likes of Nic Roy, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann at the NHL trade deadline. Although his stat line of three goals and five points in those 13 games is ultimately forgettable, Bo Groulx had a legitimate impact on this fanbase deprived of an entertaining product.
If Groulx proved anything at an NHL level this past season, it’s that he has an NHL shot. Obviously, other areas of his game need to improve before he can be a full-time NHLer. Bo Groulx is definitely a name for Maple Leaf fans to watch for over the Marlies’ playoff run.
Luke Haymes
Given the Maple Leafs’ lack of draft picks in recent seasons, it becomes even more important for the team to sign and develop quality college free agents. In his first full pro season, Luke Haymes appeared in 66 AHL games, scoring 17 goals and 33 points and added one assist in his first four NHL games with the big squad in the final stretch of the year.
Luke Haymes’ first pro season was very similar to Jacob Quillan, who joined the team the same way a year earlier. Haymes brought energy in his first four NHL games, although anyone could’ve played with more passion than the 2025–26 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Will Luke Haymes be an NHL superstar? No. Could Luke Haymes give you games in the NHL next season? 100%! He might not make the team out of training camp next season, but with a good playoff run with the Toronto Marlies this season, and a strong offseason, he might. It’s not hard to envision a Maple Leafs roster with Luke Haymes pencilled in.
Borya Valis
When crafting this list of current Marlies, I flip-flopped on a guy like Borya Valis the most. The 22-year-old, 6’2 right winger just wrapped up his first pro regular season after signing with the Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent in March of 2025.
In 60 games in the AHL this season, the former Prince George Cougar finished with 15 goals and 25 points. Nothing about that stat line immediately jumps out at you, but it’s steady and was a good sign for a guy playing pro for the first time. Borya Valis was always going to be a project for the Maple Leafs.
Frankly, it is unlikely Valis plays with the team next season, barring an explosion on the score sheet, but he stands out as someone to keep an eye on over the next couple of seasons.
Ben Danford
Although not currently on the Marlies and yet to make his pro debut in any fashion, I’m going to make an exception for the most recent Maple Leaf first-round pick. Ben Danford is someone to watch out for on the Maple Leaf blueline next season. Danford made it deep into Maple Leafs training camp this past September, impressing the organization and fans before being sent back to the OHL, where he’s spent the season with the Oshawa Generals and the Brantford Bulldogs.
Ben Danford was recognized as the best defensive defenceman, best shot-blocker, and second-best penalty killer in the OHL’s Eastern Conference this season, and also won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2026 World Juniors. He won’t put up big offensive numbers in the NHL by any means, but Ben Danford will factor into NHL games next season. The only question is how many.
Honorable Mentions
You’ve probably gone through this article thinking to yourself, “No Easton Cowan? Where’s Dennis Hildeby? What about Jacob Quillan?”
These three guys will definitely play in the NHL next season. For Cowan, it’s obvious. He’s the Maple Leafs’ #1 prospect and spent the majority of the season in the NHL. It’s not a question of if he will make it; it’s a question of which line he’ll play on.
Dennis Hildeby will also see NHL action next season. With him losing his waiver eligibility next season, fans speculate whether the Maple Leafs will carry three goalies, including Stolarz and Woll. If not, Hildeby or the previous two mentioned could be trade bait this summer. Whoever takes over as General Manager won’t want to lose Hildeby on waivers for nothing.
Jacob Quillan, I’m not so sure about. He’s looked strong in his AHL games over the past two seasons, scoring 32 goals and 73 points over 107 games in that time span. Quillan’s games in the NHL this season were wasted under Craig Berube, failing to play over eight minutes most nights. Although he didn’t show much at the NHL level, posting one goal and three points through 23 games this season, I would love to see how a different coach uses a young player like Quillan, but as of now, it seems like Craig Berube has made up his mind on him.
