Maple Leafs Organization Adds Three More Players Via Free Agency

As the offseason progresses, teams across the league are working to fill gaps left by players who have signed elsewhere or have been traded between the deadline and now.

For the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, this situation hits close to home.

Two important contributors, Alex Steeves and Nick Abruzzese, opted to sign with other organizations, leaving significant holes in the lineup.

In response, the Marlies announced the addition of three new players:

Ken Appleby joins the team from the Charlotte Checkers, where he posted a strong 15-8-1 record with a 1.96 GAA and a .910 save percentage last season. With the Leafs organization short on goaltenders following Matt Murray's departure, Appleby provides depth and stability in net.

Meanwhile, Reese Johnson re-signs with the Marlies after appearing in six regular season games and two playoff games last season. A gritty forward, Johnson brings 144 games of NHL experience with the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, offering leadership and physicality to the lineup.

Marc Johnstone joins the Marlies from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he tallied 11 points in 51 games last season. He also made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023-24. His two-way play adds value to the Marlies' bottom six.

Although the offseason is still in its early stages, there remains plenty of time for the Maple Leafs to continue making moves to strengthen both their NHL and AHL rosters. These signings mark a proactive start for the Marlies in addressing key roster gaps.