Who on an AHL contract in Maple Leafs system could impress this year?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team that can’t rely on high-end draft picks because they are firmly in win-now mode.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing since that means they are in the hunt for the Stanley Cup, but that means help from within the farm system won’t be helpful for quite some time, with the likes of Matthew Knies being the exception and not the norm. As a result of the position the Leafs are in, their best bet for unearthing quality youth is through projects and low-risk bets acquired via the draft or free agency.

Some players that fall into the latter category are sometimes brought in via AHL contracts and are assigned to either the Toronto Marlies or the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. They are not eligible to be brought up to the NHL as a result of this distinction, but that doesn’t mean their progress isn’t worth paying attention to as the Leafs have found success with this avenue in recent years with players such as Justin Holl, Bobby McMann, and Marshall Rifai, among others.

Today, we will be looking at a few players in the Leafs system that are signed to AHL deals and are worth keeping an eye on, as they have the potential to impress enough to earn an NHL deal.

Honourable Mentions

Before we get to the actual contenders, it would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge some of the older players that are locked into AHL deals that could be in the mix to get an NHL deal down the line.

The most obvious candidate is Alex Nylander since he was able to do so last season and could just as easily do it again this time around. He didn’t light the world on fire in his two-game stint with the Leafs but he did finish second on the Marlies in scoring. Nylander has over 120 games of NHL experience under his belt, so the chances of him getting another NHL contract with the Leafs are better than most.

Reese Johnson has also been able to appear in over 140 career NHL games to this point and could be a dark horse candidate for a fourth-line role if he can make an impact in a shutdown role. He expressed enthusiasm when he initially joined the franchise about how well-run the organization is, so he could be among the players called up if the Leafs run into injuries (provided he gets signed first, obviously).

Finally, there is Cedric Pare, who is unlikely to get brought up to the NHL this upcoming season but could very well work his way to an NHL deal in the future. It’s certainly worth the bet that he can round out his two-way game because of his size and fairly consistent production; if nothing else, some veteran help for the Marlies is always a plus.

Landon Sim

Sim was originally selected by the St. Louis Blues 184th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, but went unsigned and became a free agent earlier this season. He had a strong final OHL season with the London Knights, where he emerged as one of their key secondary contributors with 53 points (30 goals and 23 assists) in 54 games. Sim then added 12 goals and 15 points in 17 playoff games en route to helping the Knights capture the Memorial Cup.

The Leafs surely must have been impressed enough to get Sim into their system in the hopes of moulding him into a bottom-six forward with snarl and a willingness to be a pest when necessary. Don’t expect him to be one of the Marlies’ leading scorers, as that hasn’t been his forte, but where his true value will lie is in how his all-around game evolves. At the very least, he fits the mould of what type of team Brad Treliving is trying to build.

Ryan Kirwan

When it was first announced that Marlies inked Kirwan to a two-year AHL deal, Sportsnet’s Elliote Friedman noted that the Leafs took a hard look at the forward and were interested in his services. And it makes sense because of his scoring abilities, as he finished his senior year at Arizona State with a team-leading 26 goals in 37 games played. If he can find his groove with the Marlies, it would go a long way to filling the void left behind by Alex Steeves.

Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 195 pounds, Kirwan plays a power-forward type game using his frame to create space, power to the net, and wreak havoc in tight. He told PHNX Sports earlier this year that his shot is one of his best attributes, which makes sense given how well he did with goals last season. You can expect him to get plenty of chances to let it rip and take the first steps towards securing his ELC with the Leafs.

Chas Sharpe

I wrote earlier this year about why Sharpe is a prospect on an AHL deal worth keeping an eye on, and he went on to continue his dominance of the ECHL after that piece went up. The defenceman finished his rookie year tied for first with Lincoln Griffin for the Cyclones’ lead in goals and third on the team in scoring with 46 points. Sharpe’s goal total was also the best among ECHL defencemen while also placing seventh in the league for scoring by a blueliner.

He was able to earn a four-game trial run with the Marlies late in the campaign as a reward for his efforts, while also earning some accolades in the ECHL, which included being named to the All-Rookie team. Sharpe will need to work on fully rounding out his defensive game to stick around in the AHL for longer, but his offensive upside makes him worth investing in and he could secure an NHL deal in the near future if he keeps his upward trajectory going.

Marko Sikic

The Leafs seem to be impressed with the progress made by Sikic in his rookie season, as he earned a second AHL contract earlier this summer alongside four other players. While the offence was difficult to come by for him with only 18 points (nine goals and nine assists) in 64 games played, he did secure a four-game trial run with the Marlies towards the end of the campaign where he went scoreless.

Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 183 pounds, Sikic is considered a playmaker given he was able to record at least 30 assists or more as an established OHL player before turning pro. The offensive abilities and his large size gives him a good head, but he will no doubt need to continue to improve his defensive game to take the next steps. Considering he was a factor at Leafs training camp last year and likely will again this year, the team is surely confident he can get there.

Ryan McCleary

McCleary is another player who earned a second AHL deal after wrapping up his maiden voyage as a pro, though the difference is that the defenceman was originally picked by the Pittsburgh Penguins 194th overall in 2021. He has good size standing at 6’3″ and weighing 182 pounds, had fairly consistent production in the WHL, and was able to become a regular with the Cyclones as a rookie.

He was far from their most productive blueliner as he only mustered up 12 points (five goals and seven assists) in 69 games played, but he was able to earn his keep with his defensive play and shutdown abilities. McCleary has been one that the Leafs have reportedly been impressed with at the development camp last year, so this recent extension is a reward for his hard work. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take another step and earn a call-up to the AHL at some point next year.