Marlies fight for right to party again

New-look lineup relaunches after heartwarming off-season

Marlies forward Colin Greening “screeched” the Calder Cup when he got his day with it in Newfoundland.

“We got a big, giant cod, put it in the Cup, put a Sou’wester on it — or a fishing hat, those yellow rain hats,” said Greening. “My parents live near the ocean. So we got some photos with it, then we had a party that night.”

There are other tales from the Marlies’ summer with the AHL championship trophy: Ice cream and alcohol were consumed from it by various members. Trevor Moore’s cousin, just a baby, was placed in the Cup during a family retreat to an island in North Carolina. Coach Sheldon Keefe brought it to his folks’ home in Brampton — the house where he grew up.

“The neighbours were able to come by and enjoy it, and we had a lot of friends, and folks that came to our games and were part of the journey with us, come over. It was nice to share the time with them,” said Keefe, smiling at the memories. “I enjoyed it for sure.” Now the party is over. “You kind of soak it in during the summer. Now it’s back to square one,” said Greening.

“We have to recognize this is a new season, a new challenge, a new team and we have to remain just as hungry as we were,” said Keefe.

The regular season has already begun. The Marlies won in Utica and lost in Binghamton over the weekend.

“This is a new season, a new challenge, a new team and we have to remain just as hungry.” SHELDON KEEFE MARLIES COACH

Their first home game goes Monday at 3 p.m. against the Cleveland Monsters and they’ll raise their first AHL championship banner in the newly minted Coca-Cola Coliseum.

“It should be fun,” said Greening.

The Marlies have 25 players (average age: 25.16), including17 returnees, but most of their best have moved on: Andreas Johnsson, Travis Dermott, Frederik Gauthier, Garret Sparks, Justin Holl and Martin Marincin made the Maple Leafs. Goalie Calvin Pickard was claimed on waivers by Philadelphia. Captain Ben Smith is playing in Europe.

“For guys to step up and fill those spots (with the Leafs), it’s nice to see,” said Keefe. “We still have a good crop of guys down here that are looking for their opportunities and are continuing to push to be the next guys.”

That means some returning players will be taking on bigger roles.

For example, more will be expected from defenceman Timothy Liljegren, the Leafs’ top pick from the 2017 draft. He’s a right-handed shot with the skill level to be a top-four defenceman, but by his own admission he’s still a ways away from being an NHLer.

“It feels good to be there (with the Marlies) and … and work with skills coaches and take your time to be NHL ready,” said Liljegren.

“I think I need to improve some things. I could have scored more points (last year). I think I had opportunities to score more goals and make some more assists. Overall, I think it was a pretty good year. I think I improved as a player for sure.”

There are some key new faces: veteran forward Sam Gagner is on loan from the Vancouver Canucks. Defenceman Rasmus Sandin, the Leafs’ first-round pick this year, is also on the Marlies.

Some are on the cusp of being the first call-ups: Moore has caught the eye of Leafs coach Mike Babcock and already has three goals. Most think defenceman Calle Rosen (three assists) is also ready for the NHL and is a member of the Marlies only because he didn’t need to clear waivers to get there.

Putting it all together in a cohesive package is Keefe’s challenge.

“All that stuff takes time,” said Keefe. “In a lot of ways you’re starting over. As much as we have a real good core of returning players from last year’s championship team, we look at it in the sense that it’s right on the ground floor again, starting over.”