Maple Leafs prospect Alex Steeves has been putting up excellent numbers in the AHL and has now walked back some comments he made about potentially leaving the team.
After threats of leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs for a better potential opportunity elsewhere, 25-year-old Alex Steeves appears to have changed his tune.
Steeves already has the record for the most points in the history of the Toronto Marlies, and is just one goal shy of tying the franchise record for most goals. It’s somewhat surprising that he hasn’t received a longer NHL look.
Despite four great offensive seasons in the AHL, Steeves has managed just 11 NHL games in total with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his frustration with that situation started to show back in November.
‘For me, it’s kind of just biding my time and coming to accept that, obviously, I want to be here. I chose to be here, and I’ve been really loyal up until this point — this is my fourth year here. But at the same time, whether or not it happens for me here, I just need to focus on the things I can do. I think I’m going to have a long NHL career.I hope it happens here. I really do, but I’m putting less pressure on myself because if it doesn’t work out here, it’s going to work out somewhere else.’ – Steeves back in November.
Steeves continues to be frustrated about his lack of playing time in the NHL as he goes about breaking records with the Marlies, but has walked back his previous comments in a new interview with the Toronto Sun.
While he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, per Puckpedia, Steeves said he doesn’t want to be anywhere other than Toronto.
‘It’s definitely something to think about, the business side of things. But I can’t stress enough, I still want to be a Leaf. That’s all I’ve ever wanted….my focus is on the day-to-day, and good things will happen.’
Steeves’ path to the Maple Leafs came through a three-year entry level contract in 2021 following three years with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the NCAA.
The hope, for both sides, I’m sure, is that there is a path to the NHL for the American Hockey League standout moving forward. However, the business side of the game can be a challenge at times and it doesn’t always work out the way either side or both sides plan. In the meantime, it sounds like Steeves has a good head on his shoulders and understands that it’s a process.