The American Hockey League by it’s very nature is a cyclical beast.

Future NHL prospects are blooded, players are sent down from the NHL, the veteran rule prevents the league being filled with journeymen and free-agent signings, from junior or elsewhere, often begin their professional career in the AHL.

However it’s also true that successful teams should be even more cyclical with their turnover of players, as the ultimate goal is to provide talent for their NHL affiliate.

The Toronto Marlies won the Calder Cup in 2018 for the first time in franchise history.

Now thirteen months on from lifting silverware, the majority of those players who participated in that success have either made the step up or departed for pastures new.

Goaltenders:

Garret Sparks – Traded to Las Vegas Knights
Calvin Pickard – Detroit Red Wings

Defensemen:

Calle Rosen – Traded to Colorado Avalanche
Vincent LoVerde – Hartford Wolf Pack
Andrew Nielsen – Traded to Calgary Flames
Andreas Borgman – Traded to St. Louis Blues

Martin Marincin – Toronto Maple Leafs
Justin Holl – Toronto Maple Leafs
Travis Dermott – Toronto Maple Leafs

Timothy Liljegren – Toronto Marlies

Forwards:

Ben Smith – Adler Mannheim
Chris Mueller – Tampa Bay Lightning
Carl Grundstrom – Traded to Los Angeles Kings
Miro Aaltonen – HC Vityaz
Colin Greening – Retired

Andreas Johnsson – Toronto Maple Leafs
Trevor Moore – Toronto Maple Leafs
Frederik Gauthier – Toronto Maple Leafs

Pierre Engvall – Toronto Marlies
Adam Brooks – Toronto Marlies
Jeremy Bracco – Toronto Marlies
Dmytro Timashov – Toronto Marlies
Mason Marchment – Toronto Marlies

Excluding Martin Marincin who was a late season reassignment, five players have earned promotion to the NHL level whilst the Toronto organisation has traded a further five to acquire a variety of assets.

Six prospects remain in the AHL with the likelihood of 50% of those making it to the NHL with Toronto or elsewhere.

I imagine it’s close to the blueprint Kyle Dubas envisioned for Toronto’s AHL affiliate after beginning the groundwork himself but it should be the direction all NHL organisations should be heading toward in today’s cap world.

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