The Toronto Marlies continued to plot away at their summer signing season, inking three players to new contracts for next year. One is a returning forward, and the other two are fresh from amateur hockey. Marcus Power, Sergei Sapego, and Maksim Zhukov will all get a shot at the Marlies in training camp, but with the current depth at defense and goalie, along with Power’s ties to St. John’s, all three are expected to play for the Newfoundland Growlers next season.

Power, who will be 26 in two weeks, was one of the Growlers’ leading scorers last season, notching 23 goals and 57 points in 58 games. He followed up a very successful rookie season with 11 points in 15 playoff games. Power played at the University of PEI for four seasons following a very successful career in the QMJHL where he put up 194 points in 204 games as a teenager over four seasons. In USports, he kept up that near-point-per-game rate with 107 points in 110 games.

Sapego hails from Belarus, but played his previous two seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. If you recognize that team, it’s because Maple Leafs goalie prospect Ian Scott was the goalie there and played very well. Sapego was second on the Raiders in points by a defenseman last year, getting 10 goals and 43 points in 58 games next to his partner and captain Brayden Pachal. Sapego is a left-shot defenseman who is 6’2” and turns 20 in October.

Elite Prospects lists Zhukov’s first name as Maxim, but since the Marlies have consistently used Maksim, we’re going to go with that. Zhukov is a soon-to-be 20-year-old goalie who’s struggled to find ice time in the USHL and OHL. After moving to the states from Russia to play in the USHL, Zhukov was able to get in 84 games over two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers. Last season, Zhukov thought he’d try his hand in the OHL with the Barrie Colts. He didn’t get in many games there, only 19, so he moved back to the USHL and got in 24 games with the Gamblers.

Zhukov is a former Vegas Golden Knights draft prospect, so you can read a prospect profile on him from our sister site, Knights on Ice.

Golden Knights Prospect Profiles: Maksim Zhukov looks to build upon strong USHL campaign

He wasn’t signed by the Golden Knights last month, which is how he was able to sign a contract.

ICYMI, the Marlies made some more signings yesterday. You can read about them, as well as see a full list of their summer moves in the article linked below.

Toronto Marlies re-sign some of their ECHL champions to AHL contracts

Toronto MarliesNewfoundland Growlers