The 2026 Calder Cup Finals began Friday night as the Western Conference champion Chicago Wolves took on the Eastern Conference champion Toronto Marlies. The Marlies won the first game of the 7-game series 4-2. The best news for the fan bases of both the Hurricanes and Maple Leafs is the performances of their respective top prospects in the AHL playoffs, as they have been instrumental to the post-season success of their teams.
For Carolina, perhaps the biggest play-driver in their conference championship is 2023 first-round pick Bradly Nadeau. The right-shot winger has posted 15 points (6G 9A) through 17 playoff games, following up a regular season in which he utilized his heavy shot and top-six potential to register over a point per game. He is joined up front by 2025 second-rounder Ivan Ryabkin. Although the young pivot only has managed 7 points (4G 3A) through 18 games for the Wolves, his clutch play includes registering the series-clinching goal in game 7 of their the Western Conference final versus Colorado. Also included in this forward trio is Felix Unger-Sorum (62nd overall in 2023), who tallied 9 points (3G 6A) in 11 games prior to suffering an injury in Game 2 of the conference finals. While his status to return to the Wolves’ lineup this season remains uncertain, Unger-Sorum nonetheless is projected by many to be on the Canes’ roster on a permanent basis in the near future.
The Maple Leafs’ young prospect core has been equally impressive in the Marlies’ playoff run. Leading the way is forward Easton Cowan (18th overall in 2023), who has followed up his 66-game rookie season with the Leafs to tally 13 playoff points (7G 6A) in 18 games thus far, in addition to averaging 16-18 minutes of ice-time per night at even strength and on special teams. Also, d-man William Villeneuve (122nd overall in 2020) has used his considerable skill to be a play-driver for the Marlies from the back end, with 16 points (2G 14A) in 20 games for the Marlies. Villeneuve has been greatly assisted on the back-end by the play of Ben Danford (31st overall in 2024), who just this past Friday scored a key goal to tie things up for the Marlies en route to their game 1 victory. He has continued his excellent season with the Marlies after playing a key role for OHL Brantford’s Eastern Conference finals run, extending the Barrie Colts to 7 games in that series.
The two teams will meet for Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals at 3:00 CDT tomorrow.