Tag: Toronto Marlies

Notre Dame’s Max Ellis, Graham Slaggert make pro debuts for same team

A proud day for the Irish.

Max Ellis and Graham Slaggert gave all they could to Notre Dame. Now, it’s time for them to move on and begin their professional careers. As luck would have it, they both remain teammates with the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate. As further luck would have it, they made their pro debuts on the same day. The Marlies made sure to document the moment on social media:

Neither player, nor fellow former Irish teammate Alex Steeves factored into the Marlies’ 4-1 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins. However, Ellis had a few scoring chances that were worth documenting:

Slaggert played in a role in setting up another chance:

All three former Notre Dame players will hope to contribute as the Marlies continue their push for the Calder Cup playoffs. With Steeves having been around the entire season except for three games with the Maple Leafs, he is sure to show his former-turned-current teammates the ropes. It should be fun for all of them.

Notre Dame’s Max Ellis signs contract with Toronto Maple Leafs

Good luck, Max.

With the season over, a few of Notre Dame’s players are being scooped up by professional teams. So far, we’ve seen it happen with Spencer Stastney and Adam Karashik. Now, we’re seeing it with Max Ellis. The junior forward has been signed to a two-way entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he will join the Toronto Marlies of the AHL for the Calder Cup playoffs before the contract kicks in next season.

In 71 career games for the Irish, Ellis scored 45 points, 22 of which came from goals. He was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Notre Dame’s Most Improved Player in 2020-21 and a Hobey Baker Award nominee.

In his third and final season in South Bend, Ellis had career and team highs in goals (16) and points (28) as well as a career high in assists (12). Six of his 39 games were multi-point games, and he was selected as the Big Ten First Star of the Week once.

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Former Notre Dame forward Alex Steeves to make NHL debut

Some new Irish blood is coming to hockey’s highest level.

After no former Notre Dame player made an NHL debut last season, there was nowhere to go but up in 2021-22. This season already is an improvement because Alex Steeves has been recalled by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Steeves was placed on the fourth line during the morning skate that was held ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets:

Steeves made his professional debut earlier this season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He scored 12 points in 12 games, which gave the Leafs reason to send for him. All of this has come only months after he wrapped up a three-year career with the Irish. During his 104 career games with the Irish, he accumulated 69 points, including 33 goals. After last season, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Leafs.

Steeves earned many honors with the Irish, including team MVP, an All-Big Ten selection and two Academic All-Big Ten selections.

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