logo
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Maple Leafs Prospect Roundup: Multiple Marlies make NHL debuts, Leafs sign Landon Sim
alt
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Nick Richard
Apr 15, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 14, 2026, 23:16 EDT
Comments
It may have taken longer than many fans would have liked, but this past week saw a handful of prospects from the Toronto Marlies get a long-awaited shot with the Toronto Maple Leafs as the team plays out the string of a disastrous season.
Luke Haymes was the first of the recent recalls to get into game action with the big club, making his NHL debut against the New York Islanders last Thursday. Coming off a seven-game stretch with the Marlies in which he tallied six points, Haymes centred a line with Steven Lorentz and Nick Robertson on his wings, and he wasted little time making an impact. He didn’t get an assist on the play, but a strong effort on the forecheck helped pop a puck free for Lorentz, who quickly fired it past Ilya Sorokin to get the Leafs on the board early in the first period. That first assist would come later on after Haymes won a faceoff that led to a goal from Morgan Rielly in the third period. Through three games, Haymes has averaged just over 13 minutes of ice time, including some time on the penalty kill, and though he has struggled in the faceoff dot, he has shown signs of being able to handle the pace and physicality of the NHL game.
William Villeneuve took Philippe Myers’ place in the lineup for Saturday’s tank battle against the Florida Panthers, making his NHL debut after four seasons and 224 games with the Marlies in the AHL. Things started rough for the 24-year-old blueliner, as it looked like his nerves might have been getting the better of him, but he settled in as the game wore on, finishing just shy of 19 minutes and coming out even in a 6-2 loss.
Villeneuve started his debut skating alongside Simon Benoit, but was moved to a pairing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and that stuck for the rookie’s second game against Dallas on Monday night. He picked up where he left off against Florida, showing composure retrieving pucks and moving them out of his zone safely, while firing two shots on goal and finishing +1 in a 6-5 loss. Villeneuve hasn’t been perfect by any means, but his play through two games has only strengthened the argument that he should have been given this opportunity earlier, given the state of the Leafs’ blue line.
It wasn’t technically an NHL debut, but Artur Akhtyamov also made his first NHL start in Thursday’s game against the Islanders. The rookie netminder was under siege from the opening faceoff, giving up a pair of goals in the first five minutes of the contest. Despite the absence of any help from his teammates, Akhtyamov steadied the fort and stopped the rest of the 24 shots he faced in the opening frame. He ultimately surrendered five goals on 44 shots in a losing effort, but he was hardly to blame as the team in front of him didn’t show up, and he was victimized by a couple of tough bounces.
Akhtyamov was back between the pipes for Monday’s matchup against Dallas, and while he didn’t face quite the same quantity of shots, the quality of looks his team gave up was too much to withstand. He was beaten six times on just 32 shots as the Stars mounted a pair of furious comebacks to win in regulation, but he performed admirably for a rookie netminder getting his first real action in less-than-ideal circumstances. Akhtyamov showed off his high-end reflexes and ability to anticipate the play in front of him, but his ability to battle through traffic in and around his crease at his size remains a question. Akhtyamov was returned to the AHL on Tuesday, and it will be interesting to monitor the timeshare between him and Dennis Hildeby when the Marlies get going in the playoffs.
The next to make his NHL debut was Richmond Hill native Ryan Tverberg, suiting up for the Leafs for the first time when Dallas rolled into town on Monday. It’s been a long road for the 2020 seventh-round pick after three seasons at the University of Connecticut and two more with the Marlies before getting a shot in the NHL, but he earned it with his play in recent weeks. Over his last 23 games with the Marlies, Tverberg registered 20 points, playing both centre and wing as injuries and NHL recalls forced head coach John Gruden to adapt on the fly. He lined up on the right side of a fourth line with Jacob Quillan and Steven Lorentz, finishing +1 in just over nine minutes of ice time while registering one hit. Tverberg may not have flashed in his first game, but given the opportunity, he’s the kind of player who could endear himself to fans with his blend of speed, tenacity, and finishing ability around the net.
It’s impossible to forecast what things might look like next fall, especially with the uncertainty regarding who will be in charge of retooling the Leafs’ roster this summer, but Haymes, Villeneuve, and Tverberg should be among the names fighting for depth spots in training camp. Akhtyamov could be the third goaltender on the depth chart if the Leafs move on from Anthony Stolarz or Joseph Woll in the offseason. None of them are going to be significant needle movers at the NHL level, but they all bring something different to the table, and there are going to be plenty of roles up for grabs as this team undergoes a serious makeover. Before all that, there is the matter of the AHL playoffs, and the Marlies could be primed to go on a run as they get their own roster back to full strength.

Notes from the rest of the prospect pool:

  • Easton Cowan figures to join the Marlies for their playoff run as well, but first, he’s putting the finishing touches on a solid rookie season in the NHL. Say what you will about the importance of the games down the stretch for the Leafs, but every NHL shift is a chance for Cowan to improve, and he has taken his game to another level in the last few weeks. Prior to being held off the scoresheet against Dallas on Monday night, Cowan had posted two goals and four assists in six games, bringing him up to 28 points in 66 games. Beyond the raw production, he has looked more comfortable holding onto the puck and manipulating coverages to open up passing lanes, and he has ramped up the physical play as well, showcasing his ability to impact the game in different ways. There’s still a long way to go, but with the growth Cowan has shown this season, it’s clear that he will be a key component of the upcoming retool.
  • Jacob Quillan has been around a bit longer than the other callups from the Marlies, and he finally got on the board with his first NHL goal against the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Those who have watched Quillan in the AHL know that he does a lot of his damage from in tight, and his first tally with the Leafs was no different – in fact, the rookie centre was worried it might get called back for a kicking motion at the top of the crease, but the goal would ultimately stand. He hasn’t had an abundance of chances playing on the fourth line with the likes of Calle Järnkrok, Steven Lorentz, and Michael Pezzetta, but Quillan has been a bit snakebitten in his first 23 games with the Leafs this season, so it was nice to see him get a bounce. He’ll be playing big minutes again soon enough as he jumps back into a prominent role for the Marlies in the postseason, but he has acquitted himself fairly well in his first extended run of NHL action.
  • While several Marlies were getting their first taste of the NHL, Miroslav Holinka made his AHL debut as the Marlies beat the Syracuse Crunch by a score of 4-1 on Sunday. He was the pivot between Alex Nylander and Matthew Barbolini, and started the breakout that led to Nylander’s 23rd goal of the season midway through the opening period, earning his first point in the pro ranks. Holinka’s attention to the defensive side of the puck was also apparent, most notably when he slipped into a lane to cleanly pick off a pass in front of his own net to disrupt a grade-A scoring chance early in the game. Whether he has a spot in the playoff lineup once the Marlies are at full strength remains to be seen, but he didn’t look out of place in his first game at the pro level.
  • The Brantford Bulldogs swept the Sudbury Wolves in the first round and have continued to roll through the OHL playoffs. But after outscoring North Bay 12-2 to take a 2-0 series lead in the second round, things tightened up in game three. It took nearly two periods of overtime in a 2-2 contest before 2024 Leafs first-rounder Ben Danford ended it with his first goal of the playoffs. Not known for his offensive prowess, Danford made no mistake on an open look from the point to give the Bulldogs a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. After coming up short in the finals with Oshawa in each of the last two seasons, it looks like he could have another shot at OHL glory before jumping to the pro ranks next fall.
  • On the other end of the overtime spectrum, Nick Moldenhauer and the Michigan Wolverines had their season come to an end with a double overtime loss to eventual national champions Denver in the NCAA semifinals. There was some speculation that Moldenhauer might sign an entry-level contract with the Leafs and begin his pro career with the Marlies, but according to The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke, the 2022 third-round pick is leaning towards returning to Michigan for his senior year. 2025-26 was something of a breakout year for Moldenhauer, so he should be an important piece for one of the top programs in the country next season. A native of Mississauga, Moldenhauer can become an unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t sign with the Leafs before August 15th of 2027, but there has been no indication that he intends to go that route.
  • With just two games remaining on the Marlies’ regular season schedule, undrafted winger Borya Valis is wrapping up a nice rookie season in the AHL. With a marker in each of his last three games, Valis is up to 16 goals and 10 assists in 62 games, but it’s the way he creates offence that is intriguing. He doesn’t necessarily have the speed or puck skills to create his own shots off the rush on a consistent basis, but he has a real nose for the net and a good sense of timing to pounce on contested pucks in dangerous areas. Those kinds of skills translate at every level, and Valis could find himself in the conversation as a depth option with the likes of Tverberg and Haymes at some point next season.
  • I don’t typically place much focus on players signed to AHL contracts because they aren’t official property of the Leafs, but a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned Landon Sim as a player to watch. Well, it appears that the Leafs have been watching, as the club announced on Tuesday that Sim signed a two-year entry-level contract that will begin next season. Originally drafted by St. Louis in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, the former London Knight went unsigned by the Blues before inking an AHL deal with Toronto last spring. He began the season in the ECHL with Cincinnati, potting two goals and four assists in 18 games before being recalled to the Marlies for good. In 15 AHL games, Sim has found the back of the net three times, but providing offence isn’t going to be his calling card. The Nova Scotia native has some puck skills and finishing ability, but the hallmarks of his game are energy and physicality. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he flies around the ice hitting everything he can, and he has proven more than willing to drop the gloves with five fighting majors in his last 10 games. Sim is never going to light up the scoreboard, but don’t be surprised if his robust style of play has him knocking on the door to the NHL in the next couple of years.
Statistics from EliteProspects.com & NHL.com

PRESENTED BY TABLE FARE + SOCIAL

TABLE Fare + Social is a vibrant food hall in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm, TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live music, and pop-up events designed to spark connection and creativity.
Follow along @Tablefood hall or tablefoodhall.com
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News