Why a Marlies’ Calder Cup would be a big deal for John Chayka and Maple Leafs

On an NHL team in need of good news in both player development and improving overall morale, winning the AHL title would be huge.

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Published Jun 18, 2026  •  2 minute read

Toronto Marlies defenceman William Villeneuve (76) warms up prior to Game 2 of the AHL Calder Cup Finals against the Chicago Wolves. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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It wasn’t hard for John Chayka to hop aboard the Marlies’ bandwagon. 

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Especially as their new boss and the farm team was a win away from the Calder Cup before Thursday night against the Chicago Wolves.

The Maple Leafs general manager was there to watch them nail down Tuesday’s 1-0 Game 3 at standing room-only Coca-Cola Coliseum to set up a possible sweep. It was a taste for him of what awaits when the big team turns the corner again, perhaps with some of these same players.     

“What stood out wasn’t just the quality of play, it was the connection, the investment and the pride,” Chayka said Wednesday, praising the Marlies before starting a media Zoom call with incoming Leafs coach Jim Hiller. “This is a city that cares deeply about hockey, but more importantly cares deeply about the people who represent it. 

“I thought you could feel the love people have for this organization at every level. We never lose sight of the responsibility that comes with representing this crest.”  

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Chayka mused earlier in the week that he’d be very cool with the hockey department possibly collecting a title without him making one phone call or talking to any Marlie, giving full credit to their GM, Ryan Hardy, coach Jon Gruden and their staffs. 

When the Marlies most recently won the Calder in 2018 under future Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe, half their roster went on to play at least some games up the road at Scotiabank Arena or elsewhere in the NHL. 

What’s still ahead for Marlies?

But the Marlies aren’t expecting the Wolves, the farm team of the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, to roll over on Thursday.

All three matches have been close, Toronto needing an empty-net goal in Rosemont in Game 1, then overtime and a 24-save shutout from Artur Akhtyamov on Tuesday. 

“We know what’s at stake, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Gruden said after Game 3.   

Akhtyamov is in contention for the Jack Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP, won last year by Abbotsford Canucks’ Latvian netminder Arturs Silovs.

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Akhtyamov sports a .928 save percentage, best of all playoff survivors, and while he’s not able to say it publicly, got a lift when Chayka traded Joseph Woll to the Flyers this week, which could shorten his NHL path in the next couple of years. 

The Marlies are also a good defensive team with a mix of veterans and prospects (Ben Danford, William Villeneuve) with three of the playoffs’ top five leading scorers — Vinni Lettieri (24 points), Villeneuve (19) and captain Logan Shaw (17).

Winger Easton Cowan continues to impress after a long rookie season with the Leafs.

Defenceman Matt Benning, 32, said after Game 3 the younger Marlies are proving to be self motivators. 

“A lot of it is just positive energy. You’re in such high stakes in the playoffs here, one mistake is the difference of a goal,” Gruden said.

“For me, it’s letting some of the younger guys know there’s eight minutes left and it’s 1-0, let’s get the puck in, play a simple game, get on their defence. They’re easy to encourage, they do the right thing.” 

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