The Maple Leafs Keep Building Their Next Layer of Depth

The Toronto Maple Leafs don't get much attention when they sign players to AHL contracts in August. That's understandable. These aren't the moves that dominate the headlines, and nobody is going to suggest that Reese Johnson, Jackson Kunz and Timofei Obvintsev suddenly change the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup chances.

Building a strong Marlies team will benefit the Maple Leafs.

But these are the kinds of moves that can tell us something about how an organization is thinking. The Maple Leafs have spent much of the offseason trying to add depth to the NHL roster. At the same time, they need the Toronto Marlies to remain a place where players can develop, compete for opportunities and provide some organizational insurance when injuries inevitably arrive.

What does Reese Johnson bring?

Johnson is probably the most familiar name of the three. The Regina native played 47 games for the Marlies last season, scoring six goals and 15 points, then appeared in 15 playoff games. He has also played 144 NHL games with Minnesota and Chicago, collecting 17 points.

That experience matters. The Marlies don't simply need prospects. They need players who understand what professional hockey looks like and can help younger players learn how to play it. Johnson isn't being brought in because Toronto expects him to suddenly become a top-six NHL forward. He's being brought back because there is value in having a player who knows the organization and understands what it takes to compete at the professional level.

What does Jackson Kunz add to the Marlies?

Kunz is a different kind of bet. The 24-year-old spent last season between Abbotsford and Kalamazoo after playing college hockey at North Dakota. Vancouver selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, and at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, there is certainly some size for the Marlies to work with.

The interesting part is that Kunz is still young enough to have something to prove. AHL contracts are often less about what a player has already accomplished and more about whether there is still another level available. Toronto can give him an opportunity to find it.

Timofei Obvintsev adds goalie depth to the organization.

Then there is Obvintsev, the goaltender Toronto selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. He has remained in Russia, where he has played 34 games for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva of the MHL and posted a .910 save percentage. That's a long-term play, and that's perfectly fine.

These Maple Leafs signings all point toward future player development in the organization.

The Maple Leafs don't need every player in their system to become an NHL regular. They need enough players developing at different stages so the organization has options when opportunities arise.

That's really what these signings are about. They aren't exciting moves. They're organizational moves. And sometimes those are the ones that matter later.