Leafs Urged to Give Deserving Player a Shot Before Major Trade Deadline Moves

Etching his name in the record books, Alex Steeves has proven that the AHL is no match for his level of talent. With the Maple Leafs needing some offensive depth -- should the team call-up Steeves before making a trade?

This season with the Marlies has been yet another widely successful one for Steeves.

Registering 26 goals, 15 assists & 41 points in 35 games, it just adds onto his incredible journey through the AHL.

In his 223 games played for the Marlies, Steeves has 95 goals and 100 assists for 195 points, adding a plus-3 over that span.

He signed as a free agent in March 2021 after a standout NCAA career at Notre Dame where he had 33 goals & 36 assists in 104 games and was selected to the Big-Ten second team All-Star team that year as well.

He has been as reliable as ever, and calling him up could change everythingfor the Leafs.

We know how bad their third line offense has been, and with Nick Robertson just as cold as he was earlier this season, and Pontus Holmberg not sparking any real hope; putting Steeves on a line with Bobby McMann would give Toronto at least two scoring options.

Robertson has eight goals, Holmberg has two. Steeves has double their output and then some in ten less games. Sure you sacrifice defense without Holmberg but you can't win if you can't score.

Here's why calling up Steeves matters as well: He's threatened to leave. Earlier this season, he was upset with his lack of a promotion and flat out said if Toronto wasn't the place, he'd find somewhere that was though has since walked back on his comments from earlier on.

But even if you think things are fine, he deserves a shot. With a middling offense, and Steeves with nothing left to prove: It's his time to shine with the big boys now.