Turns out the Leafs do have a plan
And — what’s more — is that plan appears to be paying off, just look at Mason Marchment
TORONTO — Spending the bulk of last season as a spectator wasn’t easy for Mason Marchment, but the development program put in place by the Maple Leafs has paid off for the undrafted forward.
Marchment is third in scoring for the Toronto Marlies with five goals and six assists, and is 10th amongst American Hockey League rookies in points, despite playing in just 12 of 17 games this season.
Two weeks ago the AHL recognized Marchment as its player of the week after the 22-year-old scored a goal and added six assists in three games.
“He’s come a long way it seems like in a short period of time,” said linemate Ben Smith. “He’s got a great shot, he can skate, he knows how to get up and down the ice, be physical — it’s nice when you’re six-foot-four, also. If he can get that shot off, find open ice, and if we can play with the puck, we’re able to be productive.”
Marchment dressed in just 44 games last season split between the Marlies and the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. The Uxbridge, Ont., native spent the rest of the season working with Leafs skating development consultant Barb Underhill and skill development consultant Mike Ellis.
“You see great potential, but (he) just wasn’t in the place where we felt he could contribute every single day,” said Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe. “We just tried to have a little bit of a bigger picture. We felt he needed to take care of his body first and foremost.
“I think development is individual. You need to cater the program for what they need whether it’s skating, strength what have you. In Mason’s case, we thought it was a little bit of everything.”
Marchment — son of former NHL defenceman Bryan Marchment — has always been a late bloomer. He didn’t start playing minor hockey until age eight, he joined the Tier II Cobourg Cougars at 18 and was 19 by the time he made the jump to the OHL with the Erie Otters.
Following his second OHL season, Marchment signed an amateur tryout with the Marlies to conclude the 2015-16 season.
He then signed an AHL contract for the 201617 season and agreed to an extension for 2018.
Though it was difficult at the time, Marchment said he has better appreciation for the college-like approach the organization took with his development last season.
“It wasn’t always easy, but I just kind of stuck with it and kept on working hard and obviously it paid off,” said Marchment.
The six-foot-four, 200-pound forward’s dedication to improving his game earned him a longer look from the Maple Leafs during training camp in September as he survived the first round of cuts.
“I think he’s just worked hard and competed hard,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said during camp. “He’s a guy obviously who has gotten better. We seem to like him and so we’re giving him every opportunity to see what’s going on and see what it’s like to be a pro and try to get better.”
While serving a recent two-game suspension for cross-cehcking, Marchment spent extra time after practice working with Underhill as he continues to improve his skating.
“I’ve been working with her for two years. It’s been a big improvement,” he said. “Just edge work and stuff like that. Overall she’s definitely helped my all-round game a lot. Just being more stable on my feet probably. Working on edges and speed out of the gate.
“Just being stronger on one foot at all times, just being in a good position at all times and harder to knock off the puck.”
Marchment is one of just three players currently on the Marlies roster without an NHL contract. As he continues to put in the work this season, he hopes the Leafs will come knocking with that entry-level deal.
“It’s definitely a big goal,” he said. “I think I’ve still got a lot of work to do and I just need to keep on working hard.”