Brendan Brisson’s opening stretch with the Toronto Marlies has created a problem the Maple Leafs probably didn’t expect to be dealing with this early.
The Marlies are off to a strong start as they chase another Calder Cup title, and Brisson has become the biggest early driver of that momentum. While regulars like Logan Shaw, Vinni Lettieri, and Artur Akhtyamov have helped settle things down, and newcomer Henrik Rybinski has posted strong numbers of his own, Brisson has been the name forcing his way to the front of the conversation.
He is tied for second in the AHL with seven points after a hat trick against the Hamilton Hammers, giving him five goals in four games. That also leaves him second in the league in goals, trailing only Jani Nyman and his six.
The way he piled up those goals only made the start look louder. One came on a slap shot that went bar down.
Another came after he worked into the slot and knocked the puck past the goaltender. His third goal came from the slot as well, and his celebration made it clear how much it meant to him.
Brisson isn’t some fresh-faced rookie trying to figure out pro hockey, either. He has already played six seasons in the AHL before this one, and from 2021 to 2026 he recorded 66 goals and 79 assists in 244 games. He arrived in Toronto with a track record as a dependable scorer and a player still carrying plenty of upside.
That background is part of why the Leafs are watching closely. Toronto brought in a former first-round pick who has appeared in 27 NHL games for the Vegas Golden Knights and put up nine points there. With more time and more reps, he could profile as a useful bottom-six piece.
The issue is simple: the Leafs already have bodies in the mix, and that creates a squeeze.
Their fourth line has been a strange case. It has done a good job keeping the puck out of the net, but it has not generated much at the other end.
The group needs more punch, and Brisson’s skill set fits that need. He has shown he can win puck battles, play with a bit more edge, and bring offense that could help Teddy Blueger.
Bo Groulx has not produced the way the team expected, which only sharpens the opening. Miles Wood is also expected to help the fourth line, but Brisson’s start has made a case that he may deserve the look instead. If Toronto wants to stir things up, a hot first-round pick in this kind of form is making that decision harder by the day.
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Bo Groulx Suddenly Looks Like A Leaf Fighting For His Spot
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Groulx has yet to record a point in five games this year, and his NHL resume still sits at 10 points in 83 games. For a team that is always weighing depth, fit and long-term flexibility, a decision like this can hint at bigger conversations ahead, including the possibility that Toronto is already exploring other options for how to shape the roster. [Read more 🡒]