The Toronto Maple Leafs organization added some fresh faces to its farm system this week.
The Toronto Marlies announced Wednesday they've signed forward Reese Johnson, goaltender Timofei Obvintsev and forward Jackson Kunz to AHL contracts.
Johnson landed a two-year deal, giving the Marlies a proven forward with term attached rather than a one-year audition.
Obvintsev signed for one season in net, adding another body to a goaltending group that always needs depth heading into an 82-game AHL schedule.
Kunz rounds out the trio, joining Toronto's system as the organization continues restocking its pipeline ahead of training camp season.
None of these moves will make headlines beyond the organization's own channels. That's the nature of AHL contracts.
-
Maple Leafs organization quietly adds three fresh faces
But signings like this matter more than fans might realize. Every NHL team leans on its farm club during injury stretches, and depth built now pays off in January and February.
Jim Hiller takes over as Toronto's head coach heading into this season, and a stocked Marlies roster gives the organization more call-up options if the big club needs reinforcements.
Toronto finished last season 32-36-14, a rough 78-point campaign that ended with a seven-game losing streak. Depth at every level of the organization becomes even more important after a year like that.
These aren't the names driving next season's storylines in Toronto. But organizations that ignore the AHL layer tend to pay for it when injuries hit in the middle of a long season.
Johnson, Obvintsev and Kunz now get their shot to push for regular minutes and prove they belong in the Maple Leafs' plans beyond just filling out a training camp roster.
Whether any of the three eventually earns an NHL look is a story for another day. For now, it's simply about adding bodies and building competition down on the farm.
Do AHL depth signings actually matter for a team's NHL success?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Arber Xhekaj's agent finally breaks silence on Canadiens future
