The Toronto Marlies are champions of the AHL for the 2025-26 season, winning the Calder Cup last night.<\/p>\n
The Toronto Maple Leafs\u2019 affiliate defeated the Chicago Wolves, affiliates of the Carolina Hurricanes, in a five-game Calder Cup Final series. The Marlies clinched the title with a 4-3 victory last night in Toronto.<\/p>\n
The championship is the Marlies\u2019 second in franchise history, and their first since the 2017-18 season. The success of that first Marlies championship team, which was managed by future NHL GM Kyle Dubas and coached future NHL bench boss Sheldon Keefe, led to numerous NHL advancements both on and off the ice.<\/p>\n
It remains to be seen if this year\u2019s championship will propel players and staff from this year\u2019s Marlies team to the NHL in a similar fashion. Toronto\u2019s championship team was powered by a mix of talented up-and-coming young players, as well as capable, experienced veteran contributors.<\/p>\n
No. 1 goalie Artur Akhtyamov<\/a>, 24, took home the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, after putting up a .923 save percentage in 22 playoff contests. The 2020 fourth-round pick got into three NHL games this past season and is expected to compete for a backup role with the Maple Leafs in the fall.<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s top forward was veteran Vinni Lettieri<\/a>, a 31-year-old veteran of over 150 NHL games. A consistent point-per-game force at the top of AHL lineups, Lettieri scored slightly below his career rates in the regular season, posting 14 goals and 42 points in 55 regular season games. He really found his form in the playoffs, however, potting 11 goals and 26 points in 22 contests.<\/p>\n The Marlies also received substantial contributions from their blueline, led by 24-year-old William Villeneuve<\/a>. A former top blueliner for the QMJHL\u2019s Saint John Sea Dogs, Villeneuve followed-up a 30-point regular season by posting 24 points in 22 playoff contests.<\/p>\n