The Maple Leafs made a series of roster moves to shore up weak spots, and that has left three familiar names staring at a tougher path to NHL minutes this season.
Bo Groulx, Jacob Quillan and William Villeneuve all turned in strong years with the Toronto Marlies, but that production may not be enough to crack a crowded Leafs lineup right now. At this stage, they look more like depth options than players locked into a regular role.
Groulx is the clearest example of the logjam. He did get a look with Toronto last season and was solid before heading back to the AHL to help the Marlies win the Calder Cup.
Even so, his road to a permanent job has narrowed. He finished third among Marlies players with 52 points and led the team with 28 goals, but those numbers still may only put him in line as one of the first call-up options if the Leafs need help.
Quillan is in a similar spot. He had a brief NHL run with Toronto and ended up with three points - a goal and two assists - in 23 games last year.
Down in the AHL, though, he was productive, posting 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 40 regular season games. At 24, with just 24 NHL games on his resume, there’s still time for him to carve out a more stable place with the Leafs.
For now, he profiles as another strong candidate to be first in line if an opening comes up.
Villeneuve looked like the kind of player who could sneak onto the opening night roster, but that path has gotten much harder. Toronto’s blue line is packed, especially after the additions of Emil Andrae and Darren Raddysh this offseason.
Villeneuve, also 24, led all Marlies defensemen with 30 points in the regular season and 23 in the playoffs, so the production was there. The problem is the depth chart ahead of him.
Unless the Leafs move another defenseman, his best shot at full-time NHL action may have to wait until at least next season.
Training camp and development camp have not started yet, so nothing is settled. Still, right now, Groulx, Quillan and Villeneuve all appear to be on the outside looking in unless they outplay expectations.
There is still a path for all three, though. If injuries hit, they would likely be next up.
And with Max Domi’s chances of suiting up for the Fall described as slim to none as of now, that could open the door a bit for Groulx or Quillan. For the moment, though, the three remain a step away from becoming full-time Leafs, with another run alongside the Marlies as they defend their Calder Cup title looking like the likeliest short-term outcome.
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