The Leafs face some big questions for the future. From the structure of their front office to the upcoming offseason of roster change to the first pick in the draft, there is a lot of potential to improve the team from beyond itself. Between the draft, free agency, and the trade market, there will be opportunities for the Leafs to improve in the coming months.
Though not quite as glamorous, another avenue is unfolding before our eyes. The Toronto Marlies find themselves in the second round of the AHL playoffs. With the best-of-five series tied at two games apiece, the pivotal game will be Friday. With a trip to the North Division Finals on the line, let’s take a look at the Marlies playoff run so far and what it might mean for the Leafs future.
Goaltending is the Leafs deepest organizational position
Artur Akhtyamov has gotten most of the starts, though Dennis Hildeby has earned a near even split. Both goalies have had superb performances, though. This much should be expected, as with both Hildeby and Akhtyamov on the doorstep of the NHL, these two represent the health of the Leafs deepest position.
Both goalies are coming into their own, which makes the Leafs situation above them quite interesting. Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll are both oft-injured tandem options, making depth at the position a priority. At the same time, Hildeby’s waiver exemption is coming to an end next season. The Leafs might be forced to try to sneak Hildeby through waivers, or, more extreme, explore a trade of Woll or Stolarz.
Health will be a luxurious commodity for the Leafs goalies. As much as the possibility of losing Hildeby to waivers is concerning, it would at least be a sign of full health. Still, with the team squeezing everything it can towards reshaping the roster, a goalie trade might be one of the better assets the team can afford to deal.
This playoff run continues to underscore that both Hildeby and Akhtyamov are solid prospects with reasonably strong NHL futures.
Cowan continuing to impress
Maturing as a professional, Easton Cowan is getting some valuable experience. Scoring at a strong rate, Cowan is taking the lessons learned in the NHL this season and applying them to great effect. While his ice time fluctuated over the course of the season, the recipe seems to have worked for Cowan.
A point-per-game season in the AHL would be very strong as a rookie, a pace he is delivering on in these playoffs. Naturally, the competition of the postseason makes the feat more impressive. This will likely be the last bit of seasoning for Cowan, who will be fighting to stay in the Leafs top-six for the entirety of next season.
His strong growth throughout the season offers a lot of hope that he can continue that momentum going forward. Without much young talent, getting the most out of a top prospect like Cowan is huge news for the core of the team. Cowan has started to show a bit of snarl too, dropping the gloves and delivering reverse hits. This sandpaper will be valuable, especially when it comes from a high skill player like Cowan. Though he is young, Cowan is integral to the Leafs potential success going forward.
Noah Chadwick breakout party?
Another AHL rookie playing a regular role is Noah Chadwick. A late-round pick, Chadwick has performed quite well since his draft year. His combination of size and offensive production makes him a very interesting prospect for the Leafs, who will need big performances from late-round picks to offset their lack of more highly touted prospects.
Chadwick is proving that his continued growth is no illusion. He is the youngest Marlies defenceman holding a regular spot in these playoffs, as other defencemen in their early twenties have been pushed out by veterans for the postseason. Time will tell if Chadwick can keep pushing towards the NHL, or what his impact might be when he gets there, but for now fans should be very encouraged with his performance.
A hot power play
A big part of the Marlies playoff success has been their power play. Easton Cowan figures onto the top unit, of course, as do veterans like Vinni Lettieri and Logan Shaw, with prospects like Luke Haymes and Ryan Tverberg chipping in as well. Perhaps most of all is William Villeneuve, who padded his point totals with some big performances against the Laval Rocket.
Villeneuve got a taste of NHL action at the end of the season. While none would consider him the most exciting prospect, the consistent improvement is notable. At the very least, he should have as strong a foothold on a legitimate tryout next training camp. Time is wearing thin for the puck-moving right shot, but this performance could help springboard him into a strong summer.
Big picture
Regardless of if the Marlies advance to the next round, this has been an encouraging playoff run. Naturally, more success going forward would still be a good thing. The Leafs margin for error increased thanks to their draft lottery win, but the path to a championship remains thin. Every little bit will help, and the Leafs will need improvements from all avenues to have a chance at achieving their ultimate goal.
