The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Toronto Marlies captain Logan Shaw to a one-year extension on Thursday, marking his return to the club for 2026-27.
Thursday came with the start of a brand new month, which means the AHL season is getting underway soon. The Toronto Marlies are looking to repeat as Calder Cup Champions, and have added a slew of new names who can certainly get them there.
They also re-signed some very important names like Vinni Lettieri, and also have AHL standout Henrik Rybinski able to come in and take over Alex Nylander's spot as one of the key offensive pieces for head coach Steve Sullivan.
Marlies extend their captain for another year
But there was one important name who was a potential free agent and that was the captain of the squad - Logan Shaw. He was at training camp and looked ready to help his team fight for another title, but hadn't gotten a new deal beyond this season.
Until today. The Marlies announced they had extended their captain on a one-year deal, bringing the team their staunch and beloved leader both on and off the ice back through the 2027-28 season:
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Shaw, 32, led the Marlies in scoring with 54 points in 72 games while adding 17 points in 24 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup. Having been the captain since arriving in 2022-23, Shaw has 85 goals and 223 points in 277 games.
Why Logan Shaw is important for the Toronto Marlies
He hasn't really earned a spot on the Maple Leafs but he's much more suited for a veteran mentor role with the Marlies. He commands respect and he is one of the most beloved locker room leaders. During the postseason, several Marlies pointed to Shaw's positivity and team-first nature as to why they won.
Not to mention that if worst comes to worst, the Maple Leafs have a player who has NHL experience and is able to settle into a bottom-six emergency role. But the main focus remains the Marlies, where he has a lot of old friends returning, a head coach who knows him well, and a new group to find chemistry with.
It mayn't be the flashiest signing or the biggest for the Maple Leafs organization but Shaw being here another year gives the Marlies a leader they can trust as they continue to grow the next crop of Toronto talent.
Did the Marlies make the right call in extending Logan Shaw?
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