Tribute Alex Steeves was shot out of a canon and is here to stay.

[Ianturnedbull]

Four seasons, 12 games and, now, one goal. Alex Steeves gets Leafs rolling in win over Hurricanes

The Maple Leafs scored four goals in the first period, including prospect Alex Steeves’ first NHL goal, as Toronto beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3.

www.thestar.com

Best Quote:

“I thought (Steeves) was hard on the forecheck,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “He plays a simple game. It’s direct. That’s what I like about it. He worked hard and did a lot of good things. And he has the ability to score a goal.
“We’re happy for him.”

My Dude,

You think it's just one game, but it's not. He has exploded in the AHL / Marlies. He's exactly what TOR needs for depth scoring.

He's here to stay...

Click to read more...

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

I really hope he gets a legit shot. Put him with Tavares and Nylander. The great thing about McMann is he can slide anywhere in the middle six and contribute. Steeves game will benefit more from having skill around him.

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Steeves - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Domi - Jarnkrok
Lorentz - Kampf - Patches

 

[Kazparov]

Bunkis and McCee were calling him the classic AAAA guy. Too good for AHL, not enough to stick in the NHL

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Bunkis and McCee were calling him the classic AAAA guy. Too good for AHL, not enough to stick in the NHL

i like those guys, but they also admitted to not watching the Marlies all season.

 

[francis246]

Steeves is playing for a contract. I think the leafs need to showcase the hell out of him and then trade him. Based on his comments in a few articles earlier this year, I doubt he resigns in Toronto, but he’s gonna get an NHL contract somewhere as a UFA. Include him in a package to get a good center.

 

[ULF_55]

I really hope he gets a legit shot. Put him with Tavares and Nylander. The great thing about McMann is he can slide anywhere in the middle six and contribute. Steeves game will benefit more from having skill around him.

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Steeves - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Domi - Jarnkrok
Lorentz - Kampf - Patches

Hopefully, we find out where he is best.
6', 202 lb.
Middle 6 would be better than 4th. line.
Thought he played a decent game, however we know sometimes it doesn't last.

We all hope for the next McMann here.
Steeves progression looks similar in the AHL, maybe even a year younger.

These are exactly the types of players the Leafs need to help balance the Cap distribution.
Perhaps a bit of a gamble, but if the team locked him up 3 year at $1.5mm I'd support the gamble.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We shall see, he was great last night but he's played 12 games last night was the first time he did ANYTHING, the other 11 games you wouldn't even know he played.

You can talk about the AHL a you want but tell me something where is former AHL goalie of the year Garett Sparks?

How about former AHL playoff MVP Andreas Johbsson?

I bet you don't know without looking it up.

Even if you do it sure as hell Isn't the NHL.

Reality is the AHL doesn't mean shit.

 

[Leafidelity]

Bunkis and McCee were calling him the classic AAAA guy. Too good for AHL, not enough to stick in the NHL

Im still not convinced he's anything more than that

 

[Ianturnedbull]

We shall see, he was great last night but he's played 12 games last night was the first time he did ANYTHING, the other 11 games you wouldn't even know he played.

You can talk about the AHL a you want but tell me something where is former AHL goalie of the year Garett Sparks?

How about former AHL playoff MVP Andreas Johbsson?

I bet you don't know without looking it up.

Even if you do it sure as hell Isn't the NHL.

Reality is the AHL doesn't mean shit.

I can tell you where AHL Kadri is. AHL Nylander, and AHL Woll too!

 

[francis246]

Hopefully, we find out where he is best.
6', 202 lb.
Middle 6 would be better than 4th. line.
Thought he played a decent game, however we know sometimes it doesn't last.

We all hope for the next McMann here.
Steeves progression looks similar in the AHL, maybe even a year younger.

These are exactly the types of players the Leafs need to help balance the Cap distribution.
Perhaps a bit of a gamble, but if the team locked him up 3 year at $1.5mm I'd support the gamble.

I don’t see him resigning with the leafs. It has the Joey Anderson kind of vibes and Joey ended up getting traded. Which I think could happen to Steeves. He’s just never gonna get consistent top 9 minutes with Knies and McMann here.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Four seasons, 12 games and, now, one goal. Alex Steeves gets Leafs rolling in win over Hurricanes

The Maple Leafs scored four goals in the first period, including prospect Alex Steeves’ first NHL goal, as Toronto beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3.

www.thestar.com

Best Quote:

“I thought (Steeves) was hard on the forecheck,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “He plays a simple game. It’s direct. That’s what I like about it. He worked hard and did a lot of good things. And he has the ability to score a goal.
“We’re happy for him.”

My Dude,

You think it's just one game, but it's not. He has exploded in the AHL / Marlies. He's exactly what TOR needs for depth scoring.

He's here to stay...

IS this not the same post you did for Robertson in the preseason? Rafai in the preseason? Its one game and how many times do we see call ups look great for 3-4 games then the pace of the NHL catches up to them.

 

[Aashir]

there's like 6 games till the deadline...

I'd run one of McMann or Steeves 2LW for the entire time, see what both can provide in that role and see if a top 9 winger is available too

we NEED a 3C, but we also need a top 9 winger or two.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

IS this not the same post you did for Robertson in the preseason? Rafai in the preseason? Its one game and how many times do we see call ups look great for 3-4 games then the pace of the NHL catches up to them.

I might have posted things about Robertson, but not in a glowing way.

 

[notbias]

I love this board... 2 points in 1 game, 0 in the other 4, 3 in his 12 game career, never shown much of anything outside of the last game, and he is suddenly an NHLer.

For the record, I hope he is an NHLer, it is nice to pick up free players and have them develop, we've gotten some good years out of similar guys, but I won't call him an NHLer yet.

I do like the optimism on this board for once though, so I won't harp on it too much, excited to see him again and hope he builds on this call up and turns into a full-time player.

 

[Aashir]

I don’t see him resigning with the leafs. It has the Joey Anderson kind of vibes and Joey ended up getting traded. Which I think could happen to Steeves. He’s just never gonna get consistent top 9 minutes with Knies and McMann here.

He will have to earn that but why not?

Knies is 1LW sure, but McMann can cycle between 2LW or 3LW leaving the other open. Not saying steeves is that calibre, but I feel that our team can replace the entire 3rd line tbh, steeves could potentially be one of those pieces

 

[ULF_55]

I can tell you where AHL Kadri is. AHL Nylander, and AHL Woll too!

Mason Marchment never lived up to it.
2 goals in 33 games with Florida.
Whatever became of him?

 

[francis246]

He will have to earn that but why not?

Knies is 1LW sure, but McMann can cycle between 2LW or 3LW leaving the other open. Not saying steeves is that calibre, but I feel that our team can replace the entire 3rd line tbh, steeves could potentially be one of those pieces

Steeves is going to become a group 6 UFA, just like Michael Bunting did. He’s going to have options, where he might be able to find guaranteed play time. He’s been grinding in the minors. Unfortunately I don’t think the leafs are going to be an enticing destination for him (though I could definitely be wrong). Robertson is still also an RFA at the end of the year unless he goes unqualified or traded. I just don’t see how the leafs can guarantee him a spot.

 

[Martin Skoula]

We shall see, he was great last night but he's played 12 games last night was the first time he did ANYTHING, the other 11 games you wouldn't even know he played.

You can talk about the AHL a you want but tell me something where is former AHL goalie of the year Garett Sparks?

How about former AHL playoff MVP Andreas Johbsson?

I bet you don't know without looking it up.

Even if you do it sure as hell Isn't the NHL.

Reality is the AHL doesn't mean shit.

Johnsson scored 20 and then got a slew of injuries, not sure that’s the example you’re looking for. The Marlies have been pumping out decent middle 6 scorers for a decade. Johnson, Kapanen, Hyman, Marchment, Moore, Brown, McMann, Robertson, Engvall all graduated and put up 15-20 goals either right away or the season after. I don’t know why it’s crazy to think Steeves and one or two of Greb/Tverberg/Minten can do the same.

 

[ULF_55]

I don’t see him resigning with the leafs. It has the Joey Anderson kind of vibes and Joey ended up getting traded. Which I think could happen to Steeves. He’s just never gonna get consistent top 9 minutes with Knies and McMann here.

Leafs have a disgruntled, smurf, 1 trick pony playing their top 9.
It isn't like the bar is set that high.

Let him fail, which takes courage.

 

[Aashir]

Steeves is going to become a group 6 UFA, just like Michael Bunting did. He’s going to have options, where he might be able to find guaranteed play time. He’s been grinding in the minors. Unfortunately I don’t think the leafs are going to be an enticing destination for him (though I could definitely be wrong). Robertson is still also an RFA at the end of the year unless he goes unqualified or traded. I just don’t see how the leafs can guarantee him a spot.

oh that is true, I didn't think of it like that so there is some aspect of wanting a bit more guaranteed playing time

I still believe our 3rd line is incredibly weak and is a factor in our regular season struggles, but yea with all of holmberg, jarnkrok, robertson, domi all here it would be tough

I guess take it in smaller steps for now and just focus on the next game if he is in, and try to play him in a better role today

 

[francis246]

Leafs have a disgruntled, smurf, 1 trick pony playing their top 9.
It isn't like the bar is set that high.

Let him fail, which takes courage.

Haha for sure, I’m sure Robertson is on his way out. But would you be opposed to packaging Steeves with Robertson to grab an impact center? As much as I would love to keep Steeves he might have more value than Robertson right now around the league.

oh that is true, I didn't think of it like that so there is some aspect of wanting a bit more guaranteed playing time

I still believe our 3rd line is incredibly weak and is a factor in our regular season struggles, but yea with all of holmberg, jarnkrok, robertson, domi all here it would be tough

I guess take it in smaller steps for now and just focus on the next game if he is in, and try to play him in a better role today

Yup! And Steeves did an article a few months ago saying he feels like he’s ready to be a full time NHLer and believes he will with Toronto or if need be another team (which kinda made me think, yeah he’s basically saying if they don’t play me I’m out of here when the season ends)

Yeah my suggestion is the leafs need to showcase him and build his value, just like they did with Joey Anderson and include him in a trade for someone who is impactful. Would you rather part ways with a Steeves or a Cowan?

 

[notbias]

Haha for sure, I’m sure Robertson is on his way out. But would you be opposed to packaging Steeves with Robertson to grab an impact center? As much as I would love to keep Steeves he might have more value than Robertson right now around the league.

Those two are not getting an impact C...

Leafs have a disgruntled, smurf, 1 trick pony playing their top 9.
It isn't like the bar is set that high.

Let him fail, which takes courage.

Ah yes, let's ship out the younger player, who has performed better over their career, has way more potential, and has performed better this season, because of one game.

Steeves has not beaten out a single player for a job that had one before the last game... He's played well in 20% of his games this year, this isn't his first call-up.

This convo may be had at some point, but it is premature.

 

[francis246]

Those two are not getting an impact C...



Ah yes, let's ship out the younger player, who has performed better over their career, has way more potential, and has performed better this season, because of one game.

Steeves has not beaten out a single player for a job that had one before the last game... He's played well in 20% of his games this year, this isn't his first call-up.

This convo may be had at some point, but it is premature.

I know more will have to be added to those two. But I rather give up Steeves than Cowan. I look back to how we used Anderson in a trade to get McCabe right? I hope we do something similar with Steeves and avoid trading one of Cowan or Minten.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I love this board... 2 points in 1 game, 0 in the other 4, 3 in his 12 game career, never shown much of anything outside of the last game, and he is suddenly an NHLer.

For the record, I hope he is an NHLer, it is nice to pick up free players and have them develop, we've gotten some good years out of similar guys, but I won't call him an NHLer yet.

I do like the optimism on this board for once though, so I won't harp on it too much, excited to see him again and hope he builds on this call up and turns into a full-time player.

I think after posting on HF for so long I've learned something: cynicism is not wisdom. And most importantly, there is no certainty in life. So many people thought Tavares would fall off this season. So many didn't think much of McMann at one point. Who would have thought Stolarz would be so good this season?

You can call it optimism if you like. Steeves could fall in the Mango Johnsson category, or he could be a Bobby McMann type. I'm not saying he's elite. I am saying that if he keeps playing like he did, he could stay with the big team. He's had a solid season with the Marlies and now he looks like he belongs with the leafs.

All you have to do is look at Robertson as a comparison. He is propped up by fans' hopes, but also by his pedigree. I honestly think fans just want to see Steeves as an undrafted plug, and not give him a chance.

 

[ULF_55]

Haha for sure, I’m sure Robertson is on his way out. But would you be opposed to packaging Steeves with Robertson to grab an impact center? As much as I would love to keep Steeves he might have more value than Robertson right now around the league.


I'd have no issue trading assets to improve the team, especially the medium term game.