Toronto Maple Leafs: What is Mason Marchment’s future in Toronto?

Mason Marchment has done all the right things in his journey to the pro level. Now he’s proving himself with the Marlies, with one eye on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs as an organization has one of the best prospect pipelines in the entire league. As it usually goes with teams, the measure of your success in the draft is measured not by how you do with your first and second round picks, but how well your scouting department can find hidden gems in the later rounds.

The Leafs have several late rounders that look like they have some real upside. Connor Brown is the best example of this, but current Marlies Andreas Johnsson and Dmytro Timashov are the next wave of possible diamonds in the rough.

But what about players that weren’t drafted and had to take the hardest route to the pros? Those working their asses off and paying their dues, to make it to the pro ranks?

Mason Marchment is a glowing example of this. The now 22-year-old forward played in the OHL for two seasons and bounced around during his junior career.

His first season was played with the Erie Otters. He had 26 points in 51 games during the 2014-15 season.

Marchment was traded to Hamilton before the next season. He played in 34 games with the Bulldogs, while potting 33 points before he was moved again, this time to the Mississauga Steelheads.

At the tail end of the 2015-16 season, the Toronto Marlies signed Marchment to an amateur tryout contract. He appeared in three games, but didn’t register a point.

Marchment earned an extension with the Marlins and was assigned to the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL last season. He managed to score 14 goals and 20 points in 35 contests.

He also played in nine games for the Marlies. He had a goal and six penalty minutes in those nine games.

Coming into this season, Marchment was looking to impress when he featured on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Rookie Tournament roster. He talked to the Toronto Observer’s Mike Alessandrini about his growth during the week:

"“I just want to keep getting faster, and definitely stronger (this week),” said Marchment. “There’s obviously a lot I need to work on, but I feel like I’m improving and getting stronger here as we go on. It’s great for my game.”"

Marchment asserted himself physically over the two games in the tournament. His biggest hit came against Jeremiah Addison of the Montreal Canadiens, in the opening period of the Leafs’ first game.

Marchment earned a full-time role with the Marlies this season and has flourished in his short time in the AHL this season. The Uxbridge, Ont. native has four goals through his first six appearances of the season, including a two-goal game against the Charlotte Checkers.

With Marchment coming on strong with the Marlies, it begs the question of if he has a future playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

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This season will likely be the last that the Leafs have both Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk on the roster. Now, I’m not suggesting that Marchment can replace either of those players. There are several players that are way ahead of him in the pecking order to take those spots.

I’m looking at the possibility in a few years time that Marchment is the replacement for Matt Martin. The enforcer is in the second year of a four-year contract. It’s unlikely that Martin will be around with the Toronto Maple Leafs after his contract expires, so why not Marchment?

We know that for all the skill Mike Babcock has had on all his teams, he loves his sandpaper, especially on the bottom pairs. Marchment stands at 6 foot 4, 201 pounds, and he has good skating ability as well as a high compete level.

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It’s still extremely early to put Marchment in the conversation to make the NHL. However, if he keeps putting in performances like he has to start the AHL season, it won’t be long til he’s looked at as a fringe player.