Leafs playing a dangerous game with rookie standout; is a trade request on the way?
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't exactly have the deepest of prospect pools, but there are a handful of prospects who have really stood out so far this season. Aside from the obvious ones in Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan, the Leafs have also watched Dennis Hildeby and Alex Steeves thrive early, much to the delight of the organization.
Steeves has been with the organization for 3 seasons now, and has played in a total of just 6 NHL games over that span, registering 1 lone assist. However, he has been a very strong performer for the Toronto Marlies, improving season over season, culminating in a franchise record setting 15-game point streak for the Marlies this season. Frankly, this kid deserves a recall.
The Leafs are playing a dangerous game with Steeves right now. The 24-year-old has amassed 23 points in 18 games thus far and has watched a number of prospects earn recalls ahead of him. He has been recalled this season, but unlike Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann and Pontus Holmberg, Steeves has not yet seen NHL action this season despite out-producing all of them at the NHL level.
Steeves is a pending RFA and will still be under team control beyond this year, but there's little doubt at this point that the frustration is beginning to set in. During training camp, Steeves acknowledged that he knew he'd be a long shot to make the team out of camp and that, at 24, he was running out of time to make a name for himself and establish himself as a full-time NHLer. As far as his attitude goes, he seems to have a great attitude, keeping his head down and taking his sword to the grindstone in the American Hockey League, sharpening his skills and just patiently awaiting the recall that he has earned.
At this point, if the Leafs don't recall Steeves and give him a look, we may not be too far off from a trade request. While I'm sure he appreciates the fact that the Leafs have a very deep roster and that roster spots, even in the bottom 6, are hard to come by, he is not about to just standby, idle, and allow a potential NHL career to pass him by. Steeves is going to want an opportunity to prove himself as an NHLer, be that in Toronto or elsewhere. He has earned a shot, he deserves a shot, and if he's not awarded a look at the NHL level this season, the Leafs are sending the wrong message, holding back guys who deserve a shot based on the merit of their work in the minors.
The last thing anyone would want to see is the Leafs giving up on a good prospect and dealing him elsewhere and watching him become an effective NHLer for another team. We've seen it before, and I could go without seeing it again for awhile. Give the kid the shot that he has earned, Brad and Sheldon.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18 | 811 ANSWERS Leafs playing a dangerous game with rookie standout; is a trade request on the way? Does Alex Sfeeves deserve a shot at the NHL level after his 15-game point streak in the AHL? | ||
| Yes, he deserves a shot | 644 | 79.4 % |
| No, he needs to be patient | 73 | 9 % |
| He'll get his look at the end of the season | 94 | 11.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
