Maple Leafs Jacob Quillan Can Dominate the AHL: Now's the Hard Part
Not every important Toronto Maple Leafs signing will come with a big announcement or a bunch of headlines. Sometimes, the smaller moves tell you just as much about how a team is trying to build.
The Maple Leafs signed Jacob Quillan to a one-year, two-way contract. On the surface, it looks like a pretty simple depth move. But there’s a little more to this one. Quillan is right at that interesting point in a young player's career where he’s no longer just a prospect trying to get noticed. He’s knocking on the NHL door.
Quillan got his NHL chance last season.
Last season, Quillan got his first real taste of NHL action, appearing in 23 games with the Maple Leafs. He didn’t put up big offensive numbers, scoring one goal and adding two assists. He averaged just over 10 minutes per night and brought the qualities coaches look for when building a bottom-six lineup, including his willingness to compete and his physical play.
The bigger story happened with the Marlies. Playing in the AHL, Quillan showed exactly why Toronto continues to have faith in him. He put up 14 goals and 36 points in 40 regular-season games and helped lead the Marlies to a Calder Cup championship. Then, when the playoffs arrived, he kept contributing with three goals and six assists in 19 games.
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That’s the part the Maple Leafs have to like. Plenty of players can look good in short NHL auditions, but the players who eventually stick are usually the ones who dominate when they’re sent back down. Quillan didn’t sulk after going to the Marlies. He became one of their better players and helped them win.
Now the question is whether Quillan can take that next step.
The two-way contract gives Toronto flexibility, but it also gives Quillan a clear challenge. Training camp will be his chance to show he isn’t just an AHL star. He has already shown he can be one of the better players at that level. The next test is proving he can handle the NHL pace, pressure, and responsibility on a nightly basis.
For a Maple Leafs team trying to find affordable depth players who can actually contribute, these are the types of players that matter. You don’t build a roster with only stars. You need players who can grow into roles, provide energy, and give the team options when injuries happen.
Quillan is no guarantee to make the opening-night roster, but he’s earned the chance to compete for it. And sometimes, those are the players who end up forcing their way into the conversation.