Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Analyzing the Toronto Marlies’ first quarter of the season

By Austin Owens

TORONTO - NOVEMBER 20: A general view of action during the NHL game between the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on November 20, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario. The Maple Leafs beat the Islanders 4-2.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
TORONTO - NOVEMBER 20: A general view of action during the NHL game between the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on November 20, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario. The Maple Leafs beat the Islanders 4-2.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images) /
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Balanced scoring from the Forwards

Although the Marlies have experienced success to start the season, there hasn’t been one player that has taken over as the star of the team.

The Marlies do not have a player in the top 20 in AHL scoring. Andreas Johnsson and Ben Smith (yes, Ben Smith) are tied for the team lead in points with 17 apiece.

Nikita Soshnikov and Kasperi Kapanen both started the season with the Marlies as they were waiver-exempt. The former is now with the Maple Leafs due to a clause in his contract, while the latter is back with the team after a handful of games in the NHL this season.

Kapanen has nine points in 12 games, which puts him eighth in team scoring so far. Soshnikov had 12 points over 15 games with the Marlies. He has yet to register a point this season with the Leafs.

One of the big surprises of the year has been the play of Mason Marchment. The Uxbridge, Ont. native has gone from ECHL call-up to go-to option on offence for the Marlies.

Marchment currently is fifth in scoring with 12 points in 15 games. He brings the size and physicality that the Marlies can use in the lineup, and the production is the icing on the cake for him.

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His last assist came against the Utica Comets, where he set up Miro Aaltonen for a goal. Aaltonen has had a difficult start to the season, only scoring three goals on his first 41 shots. He was snakebitten but has started to snap out of it as of late. The Fin has 10 points, including points in three of his last four games.

He isn’t the only forward that has had a rough start to his season. Trevor Moore — one of the main contributors to the Marlies offence last season — has only put up four points on the season, while playing in all but two games.

The Marlies are getting consistent play from Chris Mueller (14 Pts, 20 GP), and Dmytro Timashov (12 Pts, 20 GP).

Adam Brooks and Jeremy Bracco haven’t been featured as prominently as originally thought. The pair has two points apiece and has yet to register a goal. There shouldn’t be as much pressure or scrutiny put on either forward though as they are both fresh out of junior hockey.

So far, scoring by committee has worked for the Marlies, but their top contributors have to keep being consistent for results to continue.

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