The Toronto Marlies went 1-0-1 over the weekend with a 4-3 win and a subsequent 5-4 overtime loss to the Charlotte Checkers, AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, and while the results aren’t something people should put too much stock into, the new line of Nikita Grebenkin, Fraser Minten, and Alex Steeves is. Minten is viewed by the organization as somebody who could potentially be a middle-six centre with top-six upside down the line, Steeves has routinely torched the AHL for going on four years now, and Grebenkin wasted no time winning fans over in his move to North America, dropping the gloves in his first preseason game as a Leaf and hitting the ground running with the Marlies when he got there.

Minten was forced to miss the entirety of preseason after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Montreal Canadiens during the prospect showdown in early September and was just recently cleared to return. He suited up for the Marlies for his first two AHL games this weekend and tallied an assist in each game for two points in two games on the season. He’s been skating alongside Steeves and Grebenkin, the former of whom scored twice and added two assists in Sunday’s contest and the latter of whom has nine points in his first ten AHL games as a 21-year-old. Those three players combined for 11 points in this weekend’s games, surely giving the Maple Leafs an impossible decision to make when the time comes to call a forward up from the AHL in the event of an injury.

On one hand, Steeves probably deserves the nod more than the other two solely because he’s done more than enough to prove he’s capable of playing in the NHL. He finished each of his first three games scoring at almost a point-per-game pace and is on track to set more career highs this season, with nine goals and 12 points in ten AHL games so far this season. On the other hand, Grebenkin is quickly emerging as a future piece the Leafs deem to be quite valuable, and with how quickly he’s progressed since the Maple Leafs selected him in the fifth round two years ago, he’s earned a look in the big league sooner rather than later. He was one of the last forwards to be cut this year and was invited to the Maple Leafs’ team-bonding trip in Bracebridge, so it’s clear the team plans to factor him into their decisions eventually. In all likelihood, Minten is probably third in the pecking order to get a call-up out of these three, but he’s evidently a part of their future too.

One way or another, this line will be one worth keeping tabs on this season. Even if none of these three players play significant time in the NHL this season, you can make an argument for each player playing a significant part in the Maple Leafs’ plans moving forward, so it will be interesting to watch them gain chemistry together and see who comes out on top as the first to get a look with the Maple Leafs this season.