Toronto Marlies’ 3 Stars for March 2025

The Toronto Marlies played 13 games in March 2025, two more than the 11 games in February, where they finished with a record of 3-4-1-3. They finished March with a record of 6-7-0-0, earning more wins but losing out in a lot of points in regulation, then, say, getting it to overtime or the shootout.

They capitalized on worse opponents, such as the Manitoba Moose, Bridgeport Islanders, and Belleville Senators, and gained big wins. However, they split the games they faced against opponents ahead of them in the standings, such as the Laval Rocket and Charlotte Checkers. The American Hockey League (AHL) regular season is slowly coming to an end, with many teams having between six and eight games remaining and starting to clinch a playoff spot, even clinching their division. Here’s a look at our three stars for March 2025.

Three Stars of March 2025

Third Star: Jacob Quillan

Jacob Quillan continues his impressive rookie season with the Marlies, earning back-to-back third stars of the month. Finishing the month with seven goals and three assists for ten points, Quillan has been racing up the point ladder on the team. He has a strong build that he effectively utilizes to win puck battles. As an intelligent forward, he makes thoughtful decisions rather than simply passing the puck to clear it from his stick. This season with the Marlies, he has demonstrated this ability quite well. He’s notched his first two career game-winning goals this month. One against the Islanders on March 8 in a 3-2 overtime win, and the other in a 3-1 win over the Checkers on March 15.

“[Quillan] has taken advantage of his opportunities,” said Gruden. “He is playing in all situations now. He is a hound on the puck. He skates extremely well, and he is strong. If you look at all of the goals he has scored, I bet you they are within five feet of the net. He has done a great job of going to these areas, and that is what has gotten him to this point.”

A significant factor that has been a result of Quillan’s increase in scoring and playtime is the recent departure of top prospect Fraser Minten and how Quillan has moved up in the lineup since Minten’s move to the Boston Bruins, and now plays with the Providence Bruins. He has been great centering Alex Nylander and Roni Hirvonen, seeing a career high in shots on goal, finishing with 36 shots in March. Now up to 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points on the season, the 23-year-old has stepped up big for what could be an important season for his future with the organization.

Second Star: Dennis Hildeby

After a disappointing February where he finished with a record of 3-4-0, Dennis Hildeby stepped up in March, partly due to Arthur Akhtyamov’s poor performance. Finishing with a 5-3-1 record in the month, he only dropped below a .900 save percentage (SV%) twice, and those were both in two of his three regulation losses; the other two (one in regulation and one in overtime) he finished with over a .900 SV%.

“[Hildeby] was outstanding,” said Gruden. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. He has finally gotten into a little bit of a rhythm. We have had three goalies with the rotation for a little while, and he has played the last three games now. He is starting to find his groove. It is a development league, and everyone still needs to play, but you can see he has elevated his game for sure.”

A key moment for Hildeby last month was his impressive three-game win streak, which occurred on March 8, March 12, and March 15. During those three games, he allowed only five goals while facing 82 shots in total. It took him some time to regain his usual form, especially considering how well Akhtyamov started the season and Matt Murray’s strong play at the beginning of 2025.

Hildeby initially took a back seat to those two, but with Murray playing fewer games and Akhtyamov losing his rhythm, he has been able to step up and showcase his all-star talent. With a record of 14-8-3 on the season, he hasn’t looked as good as last season, but he has played less due to how his teammates have been playing and spending some time with the Maple Leafs early in the season.

First Star: William Villeneuve 

Getting his first nomination and earning his first star on the season, William Villeneuve made a significant statement in March with his performance, especially compared to the rest of the season. He finished with 12 points in ten games, all coming from assists, including three multipoint games. His performance last month and during the season has helped him set a new career high in assists (32) and points (34) in his third season with the Marlies.