Last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs had a number of players playing for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League that was worth keeping an eye on. However, players like Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin, Alex Steeves and even Topi Niemela are no longer in the fold, a new wave of players are about to the make their way to the pro level.
Seeing as the prospect pool isn’t as strong, they needed to rely on the free-agent route to add players with upside. The Marlies could be in a transitional phase with some veterans moving on to make way for younger talent, though that doesn’t mean there aren’t players worth watching this season. Here are seven players that generate attention.
Luke Haymes
There’s a lot of hype surrounding the top college free agent after he signed with the Maple Leafs. Luke Haymes’ last season in college didn’t go as planned as it was derailed by injury, however he managed to put up 12 goals and 18 points in 22 games with Dartmouth College. In a small sample with the Marlies, he added another six points in nine games.
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The IQ, work ethic and smarts that Haymes possesses is impressive. He uses his size to his advantage in board battles and is constantly driving to the middle of the ice for quality scoring chances. He has great hands and deception and he has great footspeed and edges to shake off defenders and open things up. He’s only 22 years old, but has a lot of pro qualities to make the next level. He has the ability to finish, be a very creative playmaker and constantly apply pressure in all three zones. Haymes is going to be a reliable offensive producer and will earn big minutes.
William Villeneuve
The progression that William Villeneuve has had over the last few seasons has been very impressive. He took a big step with his production and offensive impact last season with 40 points and is looking to once again replicate that this season as one of the top defenders on the Marlies.
The Marlies don’t have a lot of offensive-minded defenders and with Niemela out of the picture for now, Villeneuve is the go-to guy on the back end. His speed and confidence on the breakout are strong as he can quickly move a play forward or lead an attack. He’s a great playmaker, as he can spot seams and make strong stretch passes while exiting his zone. He’s…
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