The Maple Leafs are facing hard questions over the Alex Steeves exit as the developmental drain continues
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are using Alex Steeves as a prime example of what mistakes to avoid going forward as they look towards a new results-based identity.
As Keith Pelley and MLSE try to navigate the new vision they have for the Maple Leafs, it's former forward Alex Steeves garnering a lot of attention. Now with the Boston Bruins, he's a player who could have been a great addition had he been properly utilized.
He was the Marlies all-time scorer, and beyond a very brief few games with the Maple Leafs, was glued to the AHL his entire stay. Thriving with a heated rival, it was a lesson Toronto learned the hard way.
And if Pelley has his way — they'll never have to again.
The choice to let the Marlies all-time leading scorer walk for nothing proves the scouting system had no vinegar behind it
Steeves spent four seasons with the Maple Leafs organization and in 247 games he put up 216 points (105 goals, 111 assists) but only played in 14 games total for the Maple Leafs themselves over that span.
He would have gotten a much bigger opportunity had there been someone who relied on the results instead of gut feelings. Imagine what Toronto's third line could have been if they brought him in — no Scott Laughton — which means Toronto may have kept their 2027 first.
It was also the same case for Pontus Holmberg, who signed with the Lightning this past summer. While the eye test may have irked some, or he wasn't as explosive or recognizable; if he was excelling in certain areas that were ignored then it means he was likely better than Toronto ever knew.
It's still ridiculous that Steeves never got a chance with Toronto and the fact it was Boston of all places (a team notorious for nabbing Maple Leafs products) makes it worse. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how good he was playing, and it should have led to an extended look.
Watching Alex Steeves thrive for Boston is the tipping point that's causing a systematic teardown of the development pipeline
Look, he's not blowing everyone away when it comes to the offensive side and he's not scoring at the blistering pace he was with the Marlies but has 16 points in 41 games while providing a ton of physicality with 140 hits.
He would rank 11th on the team is goals tying Easton Cowan's 9, and he would have been fourth on the team in hits. Not to mention the fact that he is only 26 years old — there was a clear path for him to be part of the team going forward.
It would have saved Toronto going after Laughton, and there may have been avenues to add more skill instead of grit knowing that Steeves could hold it down in the bottom-six, and the deals for Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua could have been much different if they had a different philosophy.
It's time now for Toronto to realize what they have and capitalize on it. Right now, they have started to do a better job by getting Bo Groulx in the lineup, but there needs to be more. They need to take a look at the following names ASAP:
- William Villeneuve
- Logan Shaw
- Alex Nylander
- Borya Valis
- Marshall RIfai
- Luke Haymes
- Logan Shaw
- Alex Nylander
- Borya Valis
- Marshall RIfai
- Luke Haymes
Villeneuve and Rifai deserve a long look on the blueline, as the former would give the team a great offensive weapon meanwhile Rifai can lock it down defensively and offer some much needed grit and toughness.
The quartet of forwards also need to be given looks though for different reasons. Nylander and Shaw are NHL-level players already and deserve a look in the bottom-six especially over the likes of a Calle Jarnkrok or Steven Lorentz and are veterans who have that experience edge already.
Meanwhile Valis and Haymes are two young guns who can offer a wealth of scoring (Valis) and two-way play (Haymes), are young enough to be impactful for a while and offer a fresh, results driven look for the Maple Leafs lineup.
The changes in Toronto are going to be a laundry list that starts at the top and trickles to the bottom. The only question now is whether or not the team really learned their lesson or if it's going to take another Steeves to make them pay attention.
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Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3|1147 ANSWERS The Maple Leafs are facing hard questions over the Alex Steeves exit as the developmental drain continues Do you think the Maple Leafs messed up with Alex Steeves? | ||
| Yes | 972 | 84.7 % |
| No | 175 | 15.3 % |
| List of polls | ||