2024 T25U25: Alex Steeves is #13

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Alex Steeves just barely made it into the Top 25 age wise this year, and it was a little dicey ranking the unsigned player heading into things. Was he going to even be a Maple Leaf/Marlie by the time we hit number 13? Then, earlier this week, our questions were answered:

🖊 We’ve re-signed forward Alex Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 21, 2024

Alex Steeves	Vitals
Age as of July 1	24.55
Position	C
Height	6'
Weight (lbs)	196
Shoots	L
Draft Year	Undrafted
Draft Number	NA

The Player

So, the undrafted forward from Notre Dame is back for at least one more season with the Maple Leafs/Marlies. It's probably safe to assume mostly with the Marlies just off the Leafs forward depth and his seven NHL games in three seasons.

However, he has been a key piece with the Toronto Marlies during his entry-level contract and if he keeps up his pace with the Marlies he'll come out on top of a few club records:

Should Alex Steeves sign a new contract in Toronto and play in the minors, he will be close to or surpass some franchise records.

1) 14 points back of the All-Time Points lead.
2) 25 goals back of the All-Time Goals lead.
3) 31 assists back of the All-Time Assists lead.
— Mark (@MarkUkLeaf) July 25, 2024

I'm sure he would sacrifice his place in the history books for a season up with the big team. Last year he only got in one game, and the year before he got into three each. The biggest challenge is competing with other similar players for a bottom line/13th forward spot. Steeves will be battling in training camp against Connor Dewar, Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, Pontus Holmberg, and mayyyybe Nick Robertson?

An excellent AHL contributor points wise, not a point per game but a regular contributor for sure. He plays in the tough spots, the corners, in front of the net, a contributor, someone to rely on.

The Votes

Only unranked by one voter, no votes in the twenties and a couple in the top ten. Not the largest spread in rankings, but he's a player who has everyone coming from a different angle. I had him at number ten, but maybe if he had signed by the time we voted he could have been higher for me. I beleeves in Alex Steeves.

Voter	Vote
Cathy	17
Brian	16
Species	10
Adam	10
Hardev	8
dhammm	13
Cameron S	12
Hound Line	11
brysplace	16
Catch-67	14
Sclodiggity	11
shinson93	9
The Bag	18
Zone Entry	NA
Weighted Average	13.64
Highest Vote	8
Lowest Vote	18

The Opinions

dhammm: Alex Steeves seems to have maxed out what he can do at the AHL level, and based on his footspeed and skill, he could probably be a 4th-line energy forward on a less discriminating team than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hoping he can have the kind of camp that makes a Kampf or Reaves for future considerations trade happen.

Zone Entry: I left Steeves off my list entirely because I think the window for him to make any meaningful contribution to the NHL Leafs has closed, and so following my criteria this year of “how much would it hurt to lose this player?” the answer I arrived at was… not at all. If the Leafs were worse, we might give him just enough games to be eligible to be taken in an expansion draft.

shinson93: Steeves has done about as much as he can at the AHL level. He’s committed to his craft and puts the work in. In a lot of other situations, he would have gotten a shot in the NHL already, and I’m convinced he’ll get one whether it’s with the Leafs or someone else.

Cameron S: I really like Steeves, and think he get more time in the NHL, unfortunately as he gets older it seems like he won’t materialize to anything more than a 4th line/bottom 6 guy if he becomes an NHL regular.

Cathy: With his new contract, Steeves is in what looks very much like his last year in the Leafs system barring very unexpected outcomes. I ranked him way, way down with the "plays hockey but not well enough" prospects. He likely should be looking now for a European top-line job, but he'll wait out another try at the delightful prospect of playing 5 minutes in a game as an injury recall with the Leafs, and then (probably) be a free agent next summer to give it a go somewhere else. The Leafs have signed several players over his head, and also have two prospects coming on who will also surpass him quickly. None of that would matter if he was a better player, though.

The Bag: My notes on Steeves just read “The Leafs seem uninterested.” And yet I struggled to place players above him. Is he an NHL player who has been leapfrogged by others? Or is he just a great AHL player? Probably the latter. The opportunity seems to have been there and we have McMann and Holmberg with the Leafs instead.

Hardev: He’s a good player to keep in the AHL to have on hand in case he’s needed in the NHL. I hope he has lots of success on the Marlies, especially next to Alex Nylander. They’ll be a fun duo. Like many top-end AHL guys in the past, he’ll probably need the leave the Leafs organization and go to a bottom feeder like Montreal.

Species: I am surprised some voted him so low but it seems like where Alex Steeves might rank himself as he often seems too humble about his own accomplishments. At the AHL All-Star Classic he seemed shy to admit he deserved to be there, like it was someone giving him a pat on the head he didn't deserve, but of course he earned it, however I understand the angle that "if he hasn't made it yet..." So I admit watching him there I was wondering why hasn't he simply said "send me to the Sharks so I can play third line and get NHL dollars," but of course I know it's a tricky business to make that request, and who knows his personal circumstances and desire about where to live, but he does have the skills that match or exceed some NHL bottom-six players, including some that have come and gone from the Leafs since he was originally signed. Steeves has a noticeably bulked up body that he can use to grind in the game and on the boards, yet his strength is being quick and smart decision-making on most of his plays. He clearly knows the game plan well and what coach expects him to do. He also has a very calm disposition which usually keeps him from taking penalties for the trivial AHL-level nonsense, something certain other Marlies need to learn, but he'll get into it with even a fight or two when there's legitimate grief. I'm glad he's back this season with the Marlies who are clearly all-in on winning, and I think on our specific under-25 ranking he still has potential to outperform everyone ranked under #10, which is a key criteria for me. That being said, he still needs to find his path to do that in the Leafs org. This season is his chance.

He has the ability, the physicality, and the IQ to be there in the show. It's the unfortunate circumstance of being below a team of established players, and a crowd fighting for one or two spots.

Perhaps the one year deal is a show me deal for the Leafs, or a show off deal for a trade or UFA signing next off-season.

He'll be a great hockey player and bottom six NHLer for someone. Just maybe not in Toronto.

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