The Toronto Maple Leafs made plenty of noise this offseason, but the ripple effect may be felt most sharply in the AHL. A few Marlies hopefuls looked ready to push for NHL jobs after a strong year and a Calder Cup run, yet the new bottom-six additions have made the path a lot tighter than it seemed a few months ago.
That leaves three players in particular staring at a longer stay in the minors than they probably expected.
William Villeneuve looks like the closest thing Toronto has to a ready-made NHL call-up among the Marlies group. The puck-moving defenseman brings the kind of offensive spark the Leafs can use, especially on the power play, and he backed that up with a huge postseason: 23 points, all but two of them assists, in the playoff run.
He has been productive for a while, too. Since being drafted, Villeneuve has played 226 games for the Marlies and posted 120 points in the regular season, then added 25 more in 26 playoff games.
At 24, and after recently signing a two-year extension, this feels like the season where he either finally gets a real NHL look or starts looking like trade bait. He’s also a right-handed shot, which only helps his case if Toronto wants another option behind Philippe Myers.
Bo Groulx is in a different spot. He already has NHL mileage, and his Toronto season gave him a real chance to climb back up. He put up 52 points in 59 games for the Marlies, then earned a 13-game look with the Maple Leafs, finishing with three goals and five points.
Even with Toronto emphasizing defense this summer, Groulx still has a case because scorers matter, especially in the bottom six. He finished with 68 points across the regular season and playoffs in 81 games, and he can play both wing and center while handling his own end of the ice.
He’s also still in his prime, which makes him useful both for the Marlies’ repeat push and for Toronto if injuries or need force a recall. The problem is simple: the Leafs added more competition than Groulx probably expected, and not long ago he looked close to a lock for a fourth-line role.
Artur Akhtyamov may be the hardest one to move up quickly, even after the kind of year that made him stand out above the rest of the Marlies’ playoff group. He was dominant, calm, and clutch, and his numbers backed up the eye test. His play was so strong that the organization felt comfortable trading Dennis Hildeby and Samuel Ersson, with Joseph Woll headed out to make way for Sergei Bobrovsky.
Still, the timing is not ideal for Akhtyamov. He struggled in his brief NHL stint and said as much, but he also has a proven track record and a reputation for winning, both in Toronto and in Russia. The issue is that the Leafs have invested heavily in Bobrovsky and Anthony Stoarz, and they’re likely to ride that tandem as long as they can.
Toronto probably won’t carry three goalies to open the season, and Akhtyamov is not in danger of being lost on waivers. A strong camp could at least give John Chayka confidence to use him when needed, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to take over right now.
Another year in the AHL, though, could set him up for a much bigger role down the line. By 2027, he could be the young goalie behind Bobrovsky.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Are Betting Big On One Risky Scott Laughton Fix
Scott Laughtons departure left Toronto with a familiar kind of offseason problem: a useful, versatile forward who did a lot of little things well, and no obvious one-for-one answer to replace him. Rather than chase a single clone, the Maple Leafs spread those responsibilities across a handful of new additions, betting that a deeper, more balanced group can recreate the defensive value Laughton brought while keeping the lineup flexible.
The real question is whether that patchwork solution can supply enough offense to make the tradeoff worthwhile. Toronto is counting on stronger play without the puck from the new group, but the scoring burden is uneven, with one player carrying most of the upside and the others projecting more as limited finishers. It is a reasonable plan on paper, but it also leaves the Leafs waiting to see whether committee chemistry can cover for the missing individual spark. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Brutal Max Domi Cap Dilemma
Max Domis injury has put the Maple Leafs in an awkward spot before camp, with the club weighing whether to park him on long-term injured reserve for temporary salary-cap relief or explore a more permanent solution. LTIR would help Toronto get through the short term, but it also comes with a catch if Domi is able to return later, while a trade would clear the books more cleanly and give the team a better sense of where it stands.
The problem is that moving him is not simple, especially for a team already trying to squeeze every dollar out of its roster plan. Any deal would likely come at a cost, and Toronto would have to decide whether the price of doing business is worth the cap flexibility it gains. For a club that has spent plenty of time living on the margin, this is the kind of decision that can shape more than just the opening weeks of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Another No. 1 Pick Just Sent A Message To Gavin McKenna
Matthew Schaefer has only just finished his own ascent to the top of the draft board, but he is already offering a bit of perspective to the next player in line. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Calder Trophy winner recently spoke to Gavin McKenna as the 2026 No. 1 pick gets ready for his first NHL season, urging him to enjoy the moment, stay confident and keep developing with the teammates and coaches around him.
For Toronto fans, there is an added layer to the conversation, since McKennas arrival carries the weight that comes with playing in his hometown hockey market. Schaefers message was simple enough, but the timing makes it more interesting: the two top picks are set to see each other early in the season, giving both young stars a quick chance to measure where they stand and how far they still have to go. [Read more 🡒]