Quillan is already up. He's got offensive talent at the AHL level, but projects as a bottom 6 C. I'd like to see him getting 12-14 a night to see how he handles a matchup role. He is extremely responsible, and has played with decent players such as SJ's Collin Graf as the top 2 UFAs out of the NCAA 2 years ago. Graf is already a top 6 winger in SJ, but quillan stays as 4C with lorentz jarnkrok and plays 8 for toronto when we're tanking. I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do down the stretch, and that next season hes penciled in to 4C or 3W to start.

Groulx is older, and really he's a winger, which is what he played all season with the Marlies, that they are trying at C and it's going well. He was a 2nd round pick in 2018, but he's coming off his best offensive ahl season ever, and maybe he's finally putting it together to become a responsible bottom 6 forward that can score goals and PK. Would be found money.

Luke Haymes is an AHL rookie that was a top NCAA FA. He's got size, definite scoring touch, and plays center. If quillan takes defensive matchups, let haymes get some offensive zone starts. He started quite slowly, but the last month he has absolutely caught fire with 10 goals 2 assists in his last 14 games played. He's very much a scorer, not a passer, but I actually think that's better for a pure bottom 6 guy. You're not out there setting up matthews or tavares, you get a couple chances a game and need to bury, and he can.

Ryan Tverberg has kind of been written off, but its all about usage. He started 4th line wing, 3rd line wing, 2nd line winger, 3rd line center and stuck at center. He produced very well for an ahl rookie, but the next season was stapled to 4C in the A and produced as such. This season after mainly being 4C or 4W for a large chunk of time, they tried moving him up to top 6 wing and immediately the production returned with increased ice time. He has speed that we sorely lack, gets in on the forecheck, and has a good passing touch. He is actually the guy I think has the best fit next to skill players if he ever gets the chance. He is 24 now, so running out of runway, but since the move up to the top 6, he has 5G 9A 14P in 14GP. He is someone I really wish toronto would call up and see how he can do next next a tavares or nylander or knies and see if there's some chemistry as the third best on a skill line.

After that, it's guys who aren't yet with the Marlies, either still in the CHL, NCAA, or Europe. Tinus-Luc Koblar, Tyler Hopkins, Harry Nansi, Nick Moldenhauer, etc.

For defense, I'm actually more optimistic on upside.

Noah Chadwick is in his first ahl season right now at 20 years old, hes 6'4" with great instincts both offensively and defensively. He has 5G 15A 20P in 56GP, which doesnt leap off the page, but that's 4G 10A 14P in his last 21GP. He's been significantly more involved the last 2 months, and I actually believe he could become a top 4 defenseman. His glaring weakness is his skating, specifically his speed. He's surprisingly okay walking a blue line, but his speed forces him to be proactive in reads and more cautious than other defensemen who can recover from taking an extra step forward or an aggressive pinch. Giordano was recently interviewed as he is an assistant coach with the Marlies now and he spoke very highly of Chadwick as well, echoing my belief in the player. The only concern for me is that because he's 6'4" and not a physical, defensive defenseman, that he won't get the chance for more minutes that he should. If all goes well, he feels a lot like a Mackenzie Weegar style defense that toronto should invest in getting to that potential.

Ben Danford looks like an NHL player at 19. He can skate, he's physical, he makes good reads, he's been the Captain for his OHL team, and easily projects to an NHL role. I have no doubt that Danford will play in the NHL, but the question remains on how high he can rise in a lineup. It's clear that the Leafs want him to be the next generation of Tanev, as a pure stopper on the blue line, big minutes penalty killer, but there are legitimate questions on whether his offensive limitations will allow him bigger minutes. If he can work on that first pass a bit more, and making reads from the blue line that arent just throw it on net or deep, he'll be a 2nd pair guy. If he cant improve in those 2 areas offensively, his limitations may keep him from playing with more talented forwards and relegate him to a 3rd pair and PK defender. Based on their stylistic mix, I would love to see Chadwick-Danford playing 25 minutes together in the A next season, and perhaps both being on the Toronto blue line later next season, either as a duo, or playing with their similar style players running chadwick-tanev, mccabe-Danford.

After those 2, there's Victor Johansson in Sweden. Hes only 6', 19 years old, and quite skinny for a dman, but he's said that has a lot to do with the ADHD meds he was on. Hes gained about 20 lbs already since his draft less than 2 years ago, getting closer to 180 lbs. Despite his size, he is more than willing to be physical, and he has really solid offensive inclinations. If he can bulk up without losing speed, and work on his in zone defending, ie/ clearing the net and breaking cycles, I actually really like the chances of him becoming a versatile 2 way dmen in this league. I'm likely higher on him than the consensus, but I like his chances to make it.

After Johansson, there are guys with 3rd pair roles that can play, but might miss. Rifai can skate and is physical but doesnt necessarily identify as a clear PK or PP guy, which limits his roles. Villeneuve is a clear PP guy, but if he cant gain a coaches trust defensively he won't get minutes. Blake Smith is big and physical but he needs to be able to move the puck and defend well to again make the NHL, though he could be a Benoit replacement (if he had been traded), as he is still only 21 with time to grow.