The Toronto Marlies have had a great season – so far – leading the AHL’s North Division for most of the year. But what lies behind it all?
Throughout the entire season, I took notes on what I learned from each player – good or bad. As they head into the playoffs – looking for the team they once were this season – it’s worth discussing what each player has done to help get them where they are.
So here are 10 regular season notes from the 2022-23 Marlies season I’d like to share with you.
1. Joseph Wall is an NHL goalkeeper
There is probably no better story than seeing Wall succeed at the AHL level with the Marlies this season. 12 straight wins to start the year – after recovering from a shoulder and ankle injury – catapulted him to new heights.
Although the 24-year-old had a successful NHL campaign with the Maple Leafs last season, Woll has followed it up with something even better. Seven games, five wins, and a 0.932 save percentage — a great start to what could be a full-time career in the NHL in the near future.
It’s very early, but I will say now that he will be the replacement for the Maple Leafs next season.
2. The ever-evolving game of William Villeneuve in the AHL
The up-and-down start to his first professional season allowed Villeneuve to work his way up in the AHL. He wasn’t the prettiest of comers, but Marlies head coach Greg Moore said there would be a time when the 21-year-old would come from a cannon.
That’s what he did.
#Marlies With some nice passing on the power play, William Villeneuve fired a shot past Jaroslav Askarov for his third goal of the season.
Toronto and Milwaukee are tied 1-1 pic.twitter.com/zr2KRQMLLd
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) March 23, 2023
Villeneuve has scored three goals and 19 assists over 53 games with the Marlies this season, a fairly promising point total for a rookie outfielder. Throughout the entire season, the 21-year-old has worked hard in the gym to get stronger so that he can be more effective at his end.
If there’s anything I’ve learned watching him this year, it’s that he’s probably a future NHL defender. Villeneuve can succeed if he concentrates on that.
3. Topi Niemelä’s confident start in North America
Niemelä started his career in North America right away and hasn’t looked back since. The Maple Leafs’ top defensive player immediately got PP1 duties and was in the top four for the Marlies when he joined the team nearly two weeks ago.
The 21-year-old plays with a great deal of confidence and swagger. Even though he stands at 5-foot-11, he isn’t afraid to use his body to either protect the puck or to clear an attacker off the front of the net.
Niemelä is a hard disc drive with plenty of aggressive flair, rarely making mistakes with or without a disc. By the end of the regular season, he will have played just six games for Toronto, but the 21-year-old already appears to have secured a spot on the playoff list.
Toby Nimela has his first goal in the AHL.
Obtains #Marlies on the board to tie the match at 1-1. pic.twitter.com/jFX5R0i8nl
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) April 6, 2023
He has one goal and one assist through four games, and is a player who will likely (though unlikely) make his NHL debut sometime next season, if he has a promising playoff run with the Marlies and training camp with the Maple Leafs. next fall.
4. Max Ellis’ promising start to his career
There is no more interesting player in the Maple Leafs system (at least to me) than Ellis.
Standing at 5-foot-9, the 23-year-old uses his speed and skill to force his way through the game. This year, Ellis has gotten accustomed to the AHL—the speed and physicality that players bring—getting stronger on and off the puck, and improving his shooting quite a bit.
Max Ellis with a hellish goal in his tenth this season. This may be the best of his career so far.#Marlies Lead 2-1 over Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/4MvhXsDRiE
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) March 25, 2023
He played throughout the Marlies’ bottom six for most of the season and still managed to amass 20 points (10G, 10A) through 49 games.
Although on the smaller side, I think Ellis has a bright future ahead of him on a professional level.
5. Greg Moore deserves his flowers
After last season ended, Marlies fans weren’t happy with Moore. It’s been a tough ride for him because he didn’t land on his feet in Toronto until this year. He joined the organization before the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t have a legitimate full season until last year.
Even then, there were times when fans were not allowed in the building. There was also a point last year when the team had an outbreak of COVID shutting down a lot of their vacation plans (and games).
Suffice it to say, it’s been a rough ride, and Moore finally gets to where he knew he’d end up going: heading into his first Caler Cup games as a head coach in the AHL.
“It’s really exciting,” Moore said earlier this week. “For me, I feel like it’s been a long time here, unfortunate circumstances of two seasons of COVID, there has been no real public flow and feel.
“And I’m very proud this season of our players, our staff, our entire organization and everyone’s hard work to get to this point. And now for us to gain the experience of being in the post-season and go through that together as well.”
6. Nick Abruzzese has a quietly consistent rookie season
The expectation was for Abruzzese to have a strong first season with the Marlies, and that’s it.
As of now, the 23-year-old is tied for seventh in the AHL with 15 goals and 35 assists (in 67 games) this season. Abruzzese did get on the scoring sheet a bit, but he did it more calmly than the others.
What sets me apart from him is his hockey IQ. His ability to find open teammates and puck up is unique to an AHL rookie. And it seems that the more time he plays, the more points he puts on the board.
Nick Abbruzzese makes a beautiful pass to find Pontus Holmberg and pins him in on Zac Focale. Fourth goal for Holmberg this season.#Marlies Cutting Hershey’s lead to two, the score was 4-2. pic.twitter.com/ApGyXOc8q5
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) March 4, 2023
His transformation is what allows him to succeed as a rookie. Abruzzese knows how to use his body so effectively that not many of his opponents can get away with it.
The 23-year-old is in charge at both ends of the rink and I’m very curious to see how he handles his first taste of AHL playoff hockey.
7. Eric Calgren has had a rough season
I’m not sure anyone has had a tougher run this year than Källgren. Once billed as the best goaltender for the Maple Leafs, things have not been going the way the 26-year-old had hoped.
It’s been an exciting start for Calgren, bouncing up and down between the Marlies and the Maple Leafs last year. But this year has not been very kind to the Swede.
He’s played in 23 games this season with the Marlies, posting a 9-9-2 record and a save percentage of 0.84 in that span. His play has bounced up and down all season, and I can definitely tell it’s just not up to his standards.
But with Toronto heading into the playoffs, it’s always possible Calgren could steer that ship and help lead the Marlies to another Calder Cup — similar to what he did with Växjö Lakers HC back in 2021.
8. Watch out for Keith Petrozzelli
The 24-year-old has gotten off to a great start with the Marlies this season and has honestly not looked back. It’s been an interesting year for Petruzzelli as he’s been in and out of the Marlies lineup, all depending on whether Woll or Källgren play.
Most recently, he shared the net with Källgren and was arguably the best goalkeeper. Through 24 games this season, Petruzzelli has 13 wins and an excellent . 912 save percentage.
It can be either way for who starts the playoffs in goal for the Marlies, but if you’re only going to get out the numbers, Petruzzelli is the guy for you.
Keith Petruzzelli with an acrobatic save on Pierrick Dubé in front of Team #Marlies network. pic.twitter.com/2tW9GJZfaI
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) February 4, 2023
And depending on what happens as Woll and Källgren head into next season, Trozzelli could end up the man in the AHL for Toronto. Next year could be a huge year for the 24-year-old netminder.
9. Bobby McMahon is good enough to be a Maple Leaf
McMahon’s story is absolutely amazing. He joined the Marlies on an AHL contract during the pandemic-shortened season in 2021 and played in 21 games, scoring just 2 goals and 2 assists.
Later that year, he joined the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL in the playoff run, putting up two points in five games. At the start of the 2021-22 season, McMahon was with the Newfoundland Growlers where he had four points in four games.
Nick Robertson’s injury allowed him another shot at the AHL level and the 26-year-old hasn’t looked back since. He finished last year breaking the Marlies rookie scoring record with 24 goals in 61 games, and because of all his hard work, he landed an NHL deal from the Maple Leafs.
Just by watching him during training early in the 2021-22 season, I knew something was up. He just needed a chance to present himself. And that’s what he did.
This season, between his injuries, McMahon scored 21 goals in 30 games for the Marlies.
Bobby McMahon, as he has done several times this season, beats a defender on the outside before dropping back and driving home.
This time, he passes the ball to Mark Johnston, who can’t find the back of the net #Marlies. pic.twitter.com/zAZPpzBmCL
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) March 12, 2023
The 26-year-old’s work was so good that he made 10 NHL appearances with the Maple Leafs where he earned his first NHL point. I’ll say it now – Maple Leaf will be full time next year. Book it.
10. The potential of Marshall Al-Rifai, Tommy Miller and Noel Hoffenmayer in the National Hockey League
The Toronto centre-back has struggled with injuries almost since the start of the season. And this is where Rifai, Hoefenmayer, and Miller really stepped forward.
Hoefenmayer started the season putting up points as if he were a five-year veteran in the AHL. This led to the 24-year-old being named an AHL All-Star and joining Shaw, Woll, and Coach Moore at Laval.
Noel Hoffenmayer, what a rip. His ninth goal of the season and 24th point in 25 games.#Marlies 3-1 in the third period. pic.twitter.com/mpxC2kmOEr
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) December 26, 2022
He has everything you want as a defenseman on your team. Physicality, strength, defensive intelligence and point production. For most of the season Hoefenmayer was Toronto’s MVP and did very well.
Even though his point total is up recently, he’s still a player the Maple Leafs could sign to an NHL deal later this year.
I was putting both Rafai and Miller into that conversation, too.
Both were strong defensive players for the Marlies in their rookie seasons. Al Rifai is an elite skater who uses his strength and skating to be in charge of both ends of the rink.
Marshall Rifai plugs a shot in #Marlies The blue line then gets 2 over 1 in the other direction. Al-Rifai made no mistake in scoring his third goal of the season.
Toronto and Laval are tied 1-1. pic.twitter.com/leFfvzJhtA
– Nick Barden (@nick Barden) January 21, 2023
Miller is a good skater too, but he’s using more of his 6-foot-2 frame and strength to be one of the better shutout defenders in Toronto this season. He’s a very reliable defender, and if he doesn’t get an NHL contract, I could see him sticking to an AHL deal for next year.