The Toronto Marlies have announced the return of two depth players for the upcoming season. On Friday afternoon, the team confirmed one-year AHL contracts with Cedric Pare and Sam Stevens. Both athletes spent last season with the Marlies; Pare appeared in 59 games, while Stevens played in 21.
Pare primarily served as Toronto’s bottom-six center, tallying 12 goals and 14 assists for a total of 26 points in 59 games. The 26-year-old forward signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 with the Maple Leafs last summer and became a restricted free agent on July 1. Fans may recall Pare being sidelined for two months after a knee collision with Montreal Canadiens’ Patrick Rain last September.
Across his four AHL seasons, Pare has accumulated 39 goals and 56 assists in 207 career games. He was the 6th overall pick in 2017 by the Boston Bruins but has yet to make his NHL debut. Toronto declined to qualify him as a restricted free agent in June, making him available, but has now brought him back.
Stevens, a 25-year-old center, spent most of his time playing in the Marlies’ top-six last season. After completing his collegiate career at Boston University in the 2023-24 season, he earned 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists) in 40 games in the AHL. Last season, he scored 2 goals and 2 assists in 21 games for Toronto. Over 142 games at Boston University, Stevens notched 26 goals and 24 assists. This upcoming season will mark his second as a professional player.
The Marlies have had an active offseason, announcing their regular season schedule and securing several players early in the week. Contracts were signed with Gunnalwolf Fontaine, Ben King, Nick Learm, Marco Sikic, Ryan McClairy, Mark Johnston, Ken Appleby, and Lease Johnson. The Marlies will kick off their season against the Rochester Americans on October 10.
(Following image credit: Thomas Skrlj/Toronto Marlies)
Fan Take: Bringing back reliable depth players like Pare and Stevens is crucial as it strengthens the Marlies’ roster stability and provides solid options for call-ups to the NHL. For hockey fans, it signals a commitment to developing talent and maintaining competitive depth, which bodes well for the sport’s future growth and excitement.
