Depth of Marlies’ defenders bodes well for the Leafs

Lindgren, Hollowell were fourth-round picks in 2015, 2018, respectively

The success of the Toronto Marlies says something about the depth of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defence prospects. Much has been made of the progress of Rasmus Sandin, who just turned 19 and looks like he can run a power play, and Timothy Liljegren, who just turned 20 and has played top pair minutes this season, usually alongside Calle Rosen.

But as the seasons ended in junior and European leagues, Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe was given two more youngsters the organization is high on: Mac Hollowell, from the Soo Greyhounds, and Jesper Lindgren, from HPK Hameelinna of the Swedish Hockey League.

Both have come to the American Hockey League and played well on one of the youngest defence groups Keefe has had with the Marlies.

“It speaks to the depth in the organization with young guys coming in,” he said. “Also, it speaks to the quality of player, with their confidence and their skill set. That has been a positive thing for us, to be able to add those guys and find ways to win games at this time of year.”

The Marlies, trying to defend their championship, are tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference final against the Charlotte Checkers. They tied it up with a 4-3 overtime win Thursday, powered by a hat trick — including the gamewinning goal — from Michael Carcone. Game 5 is Friday, also at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.

It is not all kids on the blue line. Rosen (24), Andreas Borgman (23) and Vincent LoVerde (29) are veterans calming the waters when need be. But other veterans, like Steve Oleksy and Jordan Subban, are sidelined because the Leafs want to see what their youngsters can do.

Hollowell was a fourth-round pick last summer who will turn 21 in September. He had 24 goals for the Greyhounds and has an assist in eight playoff games. He took a bigger role when Rosen was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

“He’s a confident young man,” Keefe said. “He skates extremely well, he’s got a lot of poise with the puck, but he is also extremely competitive and puts himself in good spots defensively. (The post-season) isn’t an easy time to adjust to pro hockey but he has done it very well … we haven’t hesitated to put him in the lineup.”

The five-foot-10 defenceman has been drafted twice by Kyle Dubas, by the Soo in 2014 when Dubas was GM of the junior team, and again last summer by the Leafs.

“Back then, he said to play my game,” Hollowell said. “Just move my feet, keep the puck moving, play my game.”

Lindgren, 22, was a fourthround pick in 2015 and got into his second Calder Cup game on Thursday, replacing Hollowell. He had an assist in his first game.

“Jasper Lindgren has given us some additional depth,” Keefe said. “We wanted to move some things around and give him some opportunities as well. From what we’ve seen from him we have been really happy with.”