The AHL-leading Toronto Marlies walked away with their 40th win on the season this weekend versus the Florida Panthers farm club the Portland Pirates.
The @TorontoMarlies earn their 40th victory of the season as they defeat the @PortlandPirates 3-1 pic.twitter.com/Z9SfXzBZ20
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 20, 2016
The win at the Air Canada Centre comes on the heels of a 4-2 comeback victory against Eastern Conference rivals and Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
While the WBS Penguins lead the Atlantic division with 68 points, the Marlies are tops in the North division, the Eastern conference and the AHL with 84 points.
Garret Sparks stopped 37 shots to earn second star honours, while recent call-up Brendan Leipsic potted a pair to seal win number 40.
If there is anything that stands out from watching this Marlies team compete, it is the level of composure they play with. Regardless of the opponent, the score, or what stage of the game they are in, they seem unflappable. Friday night’s victory was anything but a lock, as WBS Penguins carried a 2-0 lead into the third frame before the Marlies exploded for four unanswered to pick up the victory. Saturday afternoon was no different as the home squad came from behind against a determined Pirates squad to rally for the win.
The Marlies boast the most goals-for across the league, and prior to the callups of Mark Arcobello and since-injured Josh Levo, the Leafs AHL affiliate had four players in the top- twenty in total points across the league. Defender T.J. Brennan leads the Marlies with 20 goals and 29 helpers and sits third overall in the AHL with 49 points, followed by Nylander with 16 goals and 26 assists in just 34 games. Nylander missed a significant amount of time due to a head injury sustained during the World Junior Hockey Championships in December. He also led the league in points at the time of his injury.
With Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock in attendance Friday night, it will be interesting to see who gets the nod over the coming weeks as the Leafs prepare to move out senior players on expiring contracts at the trade deadline. It’s a delicate balancing act, as the Leafs’ top decision-makers must weigh the advantages of promoting AHL talent, with the overall effect on both the Marlies and the Leafs as they approach the final weeks of the regular season. The last thing anyone wants is a Boyd Devereaux-like effort during “garbage time”, which could knock the Leafs out of a lottery pick position.
The “teaching-to-compete” argument falls flat in this instance, because the best way to accomplish this would likely be to keep the Marlies group intact and let them continue their winning ways, hopefully culminating in a Calder Cup championship victory. Sure, a few games for Nylander, Leipsic and maybe Brennan would make for good copy, but what are the risks? Imagine the impact of another head-hit on Nylander during the most meaningless period of puck the Leafs are likely to play over the next five years; is it worth rolling those dice ? The Marlies surely don’t want to lose a key piece of their offense as they ramp up for the playoffs.
Should changes come on the back end, one has to wonder if Brennan indeed gets a look. The offensively gifted blueliner is poised to eclipse his previous total of 52 points last season, possibly even passing a personal milestone: a whopping 72 points in the 2013-14 season. He never seems to make the leap to the A.C.C. and it makes you wonder what the organization doesn’t see in his game that keeps him off their radar. That said, if anyone was poised to go full-Boyd Devereaux, Brennan would most likely be that guy.
While fans of the Leafs may want to see some of those top-performing Marlies up with the big club this year, caution is warranted. There is nothing to play for that is in any way more meaningful than what they are accomplishing in the AHL this season.
The Marlies will likely see a few promotions, and the chosen few will naturally look to impress. What makes the most sense is the graduating of players with a legitimate shot at having a role going forward – the Josh Leivos, Jeremy Morins and perhaps a guy like Zach Hyman – role players with some offensive upside, with the physical tools to jump in and play a man’s game today. Jeopardizing the health and subsequent development of key offensive players who will be counted upon to lead the Marlies’ charge this spring sounds like more of a risk than reward.
Main Photo.
