Why Leafs will be tapping AHL champion Marlies for help

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The last Toronto Marlies departed the rink almost two hours after their Calder Cup win, savouring a last look around the ice strewn in blue confetti.

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Not the last we’ll see of a roster that could play a bigger role in the Maple Leafs ongoing quest to one day put themselves in Friday’s emotional post-game frame; a final-buzzer pile-on, trophy victory lap, loud music and fans, albeit on a larger canvas at Scotiabank Arena.

Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, Jacob Quillan and playoff MVP Artur Akhtyamov leap to the front of the line. Yet Leafs general manager John Chayka isn’t blind to veterans Vinni Lettieri leading all playoff scorers with 26 points, Bo Groulx’s 14, defenceman William Villeneuve tying for second most post-season assists in American Hockey League history (21), Ryan Tverberg’s speed or what wrecking ball Landon Sim added on the energy line as a new crowd favourite with Michael Pezzetta and Marc Johnstone.

They can step in the Leafs for a night, a week or longer and do it with the confidence that goes with a title marathon.

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“This is so special and for a lot of us, the first time we’ve won anything,” ecstatic Toronto native Pezzetta said during the post-game on-ice party. “Now we’re connected forever.

“You just have a bunch of guys who want to go to war for each other every night. From the top down we just had fun – as a family.”

Indeed, the players’ and staff had to dodge wives, kids and baby carriages as they made the rounds with with the Cup held aloft.

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WHY TORONTO FANS EMBRACE MARLIES

The Marlies’ hard-core supporters – the ubiquitous ‘real’ Leaf fans – have made Coca-Cola Coliseum an intimidating house of pain for visiting teams, which the parent team has yet to duplicate at SBA. Supporters, starved for a Stanley Cup, stayed long after the presentation of the Calder to chant “MVP” for goalie Akhtyamov, who went back to the dressing room to toss some of his sticks over the glass to them in appreciation.

While promoting affordable family entertainment during the regular season with select mid-morning school group games and youth hockey initiatives, the Marlies’ weekend playoff gate were true blue collar, hockey-savvy fans who join in spontaneous singing and effective taunting in a compact 8,000-seat barn.

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WHAT LANDON SIM BRINGS

They’ve quickly taken a shine to hard-hitting Marlies such as Sim. The London Knights’ teammate of Cowan has been with him through two Memorial Cup final runs and now this. While Cowan’s first-round pick pal had 66 NHL games, Sim spent most of his first entry-level contract year in the ECHL and Marlies’ press box until unleashed in playoffs with big hits and scoring. That included one Friday to start a three-goal rally.

“I’ve gained a lot of experience in these big games,” Sim said, grinning through a chipped front tooth. “Easton and I will do anything to win and it just works out that (both kept playing into June). It’s awesome to win with him again. This is the best city to play in.”

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LONG AWAITED WIN FOR NYLANDER

In the Nylander clan, it’s always William getting the attention, but Friday was younger brother Alex’s turn. His father Michael, the former NHLer, scampered around the ice with a camera phone, getting him with mates, with the Cup and in media scrums, while William watched back in Sweden.

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Alex made the decision two years ago to sign a primary AHL deal with a shot at the Leafs alongside William, versus interest from other NHL teams in the former Sabres’ first-round winger. So far that’s yielded just five NHL games, all last season, but this first championship has refuelled him.

“I want to stay over here (he’s a UFA), this organization has been great to me,” Alex said, adding his brother was giving him support in the two months since the Leafs missed the playoffs.

“He wants that (Stanley) Cup real bad, he’s working hard and I know he can do it.”

The Marlies will have a semi-private victory party on Monday.

“It’s my first time to win it at this level, but to do it the way we did (five playoff series), it’s a gauntlet,” said head coach John Gruden, before putting the last game-winning puck on a full board of 16 in the dressing room. “It’s why it’s the hardest trophy to win.

“It just says a lot about our guys. Even (those who played fewer games) Blake Smith, Noah Chadwick, Borya Valis, guys like that now have that winning pedigree for life. Winning is developing and this will be a springboard for all of them.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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