Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager Kyle Dubas has said that the organization would like its top prospects to “master” the American Hockey League and minor league levels before arriving in the NHL.
While that effectively rules out the club expediting the arrival of Toronto Marlies’ William Nylander, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen, or Nikita Soshnikov, it opens the door for a couple of players with a little more AHL experience under their belts.
During Tuesday night’s “Headlines” segment on Sportsnet, Damien Cox noted defenceman Petter Granberg and forward Josh Leivo as likely call-up candidates for the Maple Leafs in the near future.
Granberg returned to practice with the Marlies this week after rehabbing a torn achilles he suffered in June. He was the recipient of a Nylander stick to the shin Tuesday, Cox noted, all in the name of friendly competition, of course.
The 23-year-old has played 126 games in the AHL, and has appeared in eight games with the Maple Leafs over the past two seasons.
Maple Leafs fans salivating at the prospect of forwards Nylander, Kapanen, or Soshnikov coming up to help the big club may have to hit the gym and exercise restraint. In the time being, left winger Leivo could be on the way sooner than later.
Leivo has three goals and 10 points with the Marlies this season. He’s skated in 16 games with the Maple Leafs over the past two years, totaling two goals and three points.
